Hampshire County Council (Amended Decision Sheet)

Executive Member, Policy and Resources Item

6 November 2002

Sprinkler Systems

Notice of Motion, County Council meeting 19 September 2002

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought:

(i) That approval be given to the policy of installing sprinkler systems in new County Council buildings with the decision being made on approval of individual project appraisals.

(ii) That where a major refurbishment to an existing County Council building is to take place consideration be given, if appropriate, to install a sprinkler system to that building.

2

Reason(s)

2.1

To provide additional protection to property in the event of a fire.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

To continue the existing practice of meeting only those standards set out in the Building Regulations 2000.

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or a member or officer consulted

4.1

Not applicable

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1

Not applicable

6

Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1

Not applicable

Approved by:

..........................

Date of decision:

.........................

Councillor T K Thornber

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Policy & Resources Item

6 November 2002

Sprinkler Systems

Notice of Motion, County Council meeting 19 September 2002-

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Introduction

1.1

At the County Council meeting on 19 September 2002 Councillor Chapman raised the attached notice of motion (Appendix 1) concerning the installation of sprinkler systems, in future, in all new County Council buildings. The Leader suggested, and the Council agreed, that the motion be referred to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources for decision.

2

Sprinkler Systems

2.1

The current policy of the County Council is to protect life rather than the asset itself. Indeed the Building Regulations over many years have also focused on the protection of life.

2.2

Currently, County Council buildings, and new buildings in particular, have to meet the standards set out in the Building Regulations 2000. With regard to fire these regulations concentrate on both passive and active fire precautionary measures such as fire detection and alarm systems, the design of compartmentation and fire separation into the structure, limitations on the use of inflammable material, the maintenance of effective and protected escape routes and the provision of limited fire fighting facilities. Many schools with the active support of the Fire Authority, have installed supplementary measures such as smoke alarms. Sprinkler systems are not included in the current regulations as a mandatory requirement for buildings such as schools.

2.3

Councillor Chapman is also right to mention that the impetus for fire protection from sprinkler systems follows a great deal of research and a growing view in North America that such systems would play their part, particularly in protecting property. Advantages include the immediate impact on a fire, the impact they can have to reduce heat and smoke damage, further protection of occupants and the enhanced security that they could provide. There are certain disadvantages such as capital cost, their maintenance, the impact of water damage in certain circumstances and the importance of having adequate water supplies and pressure. On balance the argument would seem to favour the more extensive use of sprinkler systems in new buildings.

3

Financial Issues

3.1

It is difficult to estimate precisely the cost of installing a system without first designing the building. It could be up to £50,000 in a new primary school and perhaps as much as several hundred thousand pounds in a new secondary school. These costs would have to come from the Education Capital Programme as it is unlikely that the Department for Education and Skills would fund any requirement beyond the current Building Regulations.

3.2

Perhaps the biggest difficulty with the motion is that our proportion of new building to existing buildings remains on an annual basis very small. The vast majority of 300,000 people in Council buildings today will be in buildings without such provision, and it would take many, many years to increase and replace our building stock. The current budget provision for fire precaution measures is largely accounted for by fire risk assessment and work to support Social Services, in particular children's and elderly persons' homes and adaptations to schools. It would not be appropriate to stop the current policy of trying to improve existing buildings at the expense of improvements to a relatively small number of new buildings. It would not be technically possible to `retro fit' systems to existing buildings in an economical way.

4

Conclusion

4.1

On balance, the argument would seem to favour a new policy of supporting the installation of sprinkler systems in new stand alone buildings, and for that judgement to be made at the time the relevant design project appraisal is being submitted for approval. This would provide an opportunity for the County Council to demonstrate a degree of community leadership on the issue. The Chief Fire Officer would support this view. It should be noted that the existing policy for refurbishment, extension and repair to existing buildings will remain the same.

Recommendation

1

That approval be given to the policy of installing sprinkler systems in new stand alone County Council buildings and that the decision be considered on approval of project design appraisals.