New sprinkler system measures ‘will protect lives and property’

The new measures which make sprinkler systems mandatory in all new high-rise blocks over 11 metres high are so important they will help save lives and property in the event of fire, says specialist AEI Cables.

Stuart Dover, general manager of AEI Cables, said: “The new guidance is so critical that it will undoubtedly save lives and property at some stage but we need to see the detail behind it.

“The fire performance industry has been waiting for this announcement for some time so it is warmly welcomed, but now we need to see how it will work in practice.

“The sooner the practical guidance can be rolled out then the sooner they can be applied and the sprinkler systems being specified now can be installed in the knowledge that all best practice has been followed the interests of safety for all concerned.”

The government announced an amendment to the statutory guidance to building safety regulations, known as Approved Document B, reducing the requirement for sprinkler systems from the current 30 metres to 11 metres.

The Fire Safety Bill, which was introduced to Parliament in April, will also empower fire and rescue services to take enforcement action and hold building owners to account if they do not comply with the law.

The tried and tested generation of AEI Cables’ fire performance cabling ensure critical fire-safety circuits can continue to operate in the event of a fire from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes and often support systems which provide intelligence for the fire and rescue services.

AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling is the only cable to be independently approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B) Category 3 Control for firefighting systems including sprinkler pumps, fire suppression water mist systems, water spray systems, wet riser pumps, wet riser valve and equipment monitoring under the Code of Practice.