“An Englishman’s home is his castle”, so the saying goes, but statistically it’s also the place where you are most likely to have a fire.
Using our on-line self-assessment form, see if your home is the castle you think it is, then use the Helpful Guides and discover what can be done to keep you, your family and your home safe and secure.
Domestic Sprinklers
One of the Community Fire Safety targets set by the Home Office which was announced in 1999, was the provision of domestic sprinkler systems in a number of homes across the country
Sprinklers have been around for over 140 years but until the early 1970’s their use was confined to the protection of buildings and manufactured products. Following some extensive studies in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, there is now considerable evidence to support the use of sprinklers, in the domestic, setting for the protection of Life. With fire deaths being virtually eliminated and related injuries and property damage being reduced by more than 80%.
The table below provides a comparison between dwellings with sprinklers and those without.
| Dwellings, flats etc. |
Sprinklered |
Non-Sprinklered |
| Deaths |
0 |
350 |
| Casualties |
11 |
11,565 |
| Rescued |
1 |
6,566 |
Two other important factors that must also be considered by the householder are both related to cost. Firstly, a life safety fire sprinkler system, installed as part of the building process, will typically cost less than 1% of the building costs. Systems fitted retrospectively are from 1.5% – 2% or about the cost of fitting carpets throughout.
Secondly there is a mistaken belief that activation of the system will wash through the whole house. This is totally untrue. During a fire only the sprinklers closest to the fire will activate and most fires in domestic houses, are dealt with by a single sprinkler head activating. In unsprinklered buildings by the time the fire brigade arrives, far more water will have to be used to suppress the fire.
If you want more information on life protection sprinkler systems, contact the Community Fire Safety Department or the Residential Sprinkler Association
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