The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have signed a statement calling on the government to require the installation of sprinklers in all residential buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools and care homes more than 11m in height.

Sprinkler refitting when possible is also being encouraged.

The statement is signed alongside the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and addresses the requirement to ‘improve fire safety of buildings in the UK.’

“Lives, stock and property are saved by the use of Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS), which includes sprinklers.

"At present, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ in their requirements on sprinklers yet the science of fire knows no political or geographical boundaries”, the statement reads.

“Harmonising building regulations across the nation states of the UK regarding the installation of sprinklers would provide clarity to the industry and help protect the public.”

The chartered professional bodies also express their support for the installation for AFSS in high-risk buildings below 11m and agree to ‘bring forward guidance’ of their own in line with the statement ‘in the absence of government legislation.’

Original Source
RICS