Portsmouth High Rises To Benefit From Major New Investment In Sprinklers

Portsmouth City Council is investing £9.5 million over the next five years in retrofitting sprinklers in high-rise blocks as part of a £22 million package of fire safety measures.

The announcement comes at the start of the NFCC’s Sprinkler Safety Week and is supported by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service working in partnership with the city.

retrofit program

The retrofit program was due to start but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The council carried out a feasibility study for the installation of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks in the council’s housing portfolio.

Working with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service the council created a risk matrix to prioritise the work:

• Height of the building
• Number of escape stairs
• The proportion of supported-living residents
• Presence of mains gas
• Location

The council has created a framework of contractors who can undertake the design and installation of sprinkler systems with the first phase of retrofitting work 'anticipated to be on-site by autumn 2021'.

impact of sprinklers

Sprinklers can prevent small fires from becoming much more significant incidents"

Steve Groves, the Head of Building Maintenance at Portsmouth City Council said, "Our priority is to ensure that residents are safe in their homes. The work to retrofit sprinklers is part of our strategy to improve the safety of our high-rise blocks and further reduce the risk of a major fire incident.”

Jason Avery, the Assistant Director for Prevention and Protection at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said, “Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has worked hard to highlight the impact sprinklers can have to prevent small fires becoming much more significant incidents, drastically reducing the threat to life.”

sprinkler demonstrations

As part of community engagement, residents will be able to view sprinkler demonstrations in existing flats.

As well as retrofitting sprinklers, the council has committed to a program of fire safety improvements including replacing fire doors and external paneling, which has already begun.  Over the course of the next five years, the council has committed to spend £10m on new fire doors.