Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National Sprinkler Week campaign. Running from 17th - 23rd May, the campaign raises awareness of the benefits of sprinkler systems in keeping people and buildings safe from fire.
Fire sprinklers
Fire sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages. Research by the National Fire Chief’s Council and the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) found that sprinkler systems operate on 94% of occasions, extinguishing or containing the fire on 99% of occasions.
The result is sprinklers reduce injuries by at least 80%, reduce property damage by 90% and substantially reduce damage to the environment from fire. This also means that sprinkler systems help to protect the lives of our firefighters who inevitably respond to much smaller incidents when sprinklers are installed and that is just one of the reasons they are fully supported by fire services.
fire protection systems
Sprinklers are highly effective and provide strong fire safety protections as part of a fire safety package"
Despite this, there is some disparity in building regulations and sprinkler systems across the UK which the campaign is looking to address. Thankfully, in Wales, legislation is stricter across many building types meaning more of the communities and the buildings they use to have good fire protection.
Sion Slaymaker, Head of Business Fire Safety for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said, “It is without a doubt that sprinklers are highly effective and provide strong fire safety protections as part of a fire safety package."
fire safety advice
"Whilst in Wales there are measures in place to make our communities and the buildings they use safer from fire, there is much more work that can be done and other improvements that can be made."
"Further advice, guidance, and legislation around the use of sprinkler systems could save more lives and buildings, lessening the economic, environmental, emotional, and community impact of fire. We have a team of experts that can offer you and your business a wide range of fire safety advice, including the effectiveness of sprinkler systems, and you, are urged to make use of the wealth of information available on our website."
