Kent Fire & Rescue Service - Safer with Sprinklers - The Campaign continues!

As you will be aware Kent Fire & Rescue Service has been actively promoting the benefits of sprinklers in the homes of vulnerable people for the past two years.  We believe we are taking steps towards achieving our long term aim; reducing fire related deaths in Kent and Medway through the increased use of sprinklers.   We have made considerable progress in changing people's perceptions when considering and subsequently installing sprinklers but there is more to do; a summary of our findings following a recent survey conducted amongst specifiers, influencers and contractors are detailed below:

• 88% of respondents believe sprinklers save lives and 83% now think sprinklers react quickly to fire
• 83% of people think that sprinklers offer design freedoms and flexibilities
• 60% of respondents are now likely to request sprinkler installation
• 87% of all respondents felt that insurance premiums should be reduced for properties fitted with sprinkler systems
• As a result of the Kent Fire & Rescue Service 'Safer with Sprinklers' campaign, 61% of people have now advised others about the benefits of sprinklers
• A very positive change in perception is that now 65% of people think sprinklers should be fitted into the homes of vulnerable people and schools, compared to 46% in 2007
• Many negative perceptions about sprinklers have decreased since 2007.  Fewer people now think that they flood buildings and are ugly and expensive.

As people's attitudes towards sprinklers have become more positive, cost would appear to be the remaining major factor when considering sprinklers and their installation. Perceived installation and maintenance cost is a factor we will continue trying to address, by promoting the likely cost of specifying sprinklers, the use of low cost systems and by offering grants towards sprinkler systems in properties where vulnerable people are or will be living.

Finally, please see the short report from Essex Fire and Rescue Service regarding a recent fire in a Sainburys supermarket that was fitted with sprinklers:

"On Thursday 28 May 2009 at approximately 7.15pm, a fire broke out in the 1st floor shower room of Sainsburys Supermarket, Loughton, Essex.

The store was fitted throughout with an automatic sprinkler system and shortly after the fire started, the sprinkler head in the location of the fire operated and extinguished the fire. The operation of the sprinkler head also activated the stores fire alarm system and the staff quickly implemented their procedures and evacuated the store. Fire crews were dispatched to the incident and checked that the fire was extinguished prior to turning off the sprinkler system.

As the premises had a sprinkler system installed, damage caused by the fire was minimal, and the store was able to re-open for business first thing on Friday morning".

As we continue to try to raise awareness of sprinklers and to educate people about the benefits, I will leave you with a few facts below.  If you require further information about the Safer with Sprinklers campaign, please click here or email fireandrescueservices@springboard-marketing.co.uk.

Yours sincerely

John Pereira

Sprinklers - the facts

Effective: Fire sprinklers are by far the most efficient and effective safety devices available, having a better than 97% success rate world-wide

Life Safety Record: In the UK, statistics show that there has never been a multiple loss of life in a fully sprinklered building

Early alarm: More than 50 per cent of all fire casualties are either young or old, or physically incapacitated. In conjunction with smoke alarms, fire sprinklers sound the alarm when they go off so they increase the time people have to escape or be rescued

Inexpensive: Residential fire sprinklers cost less than two per cent of an average new house – or about the price of good carpeting

Reliability: Sprinklers are designed to last for 50 years and the chance of accidental operation, due to manufacturers’ defects, in service is *1:16,000,000 (one in sixteen million). Less than your chance of winning the lottery!

Operational facts: Each sprinkler head is individually triggered by the heat of the fire and the system will gain control of the fire long before the Fire and Rescue Service is called. Only the sprinkler head nearest to the fire goes off - NOT all of them

Limited water damage: Sprinklers use much less water than the Fire and Rescue Service. Because the sprinkler system tackles the fire immediately, it only has a small fire to deal with. A fire sprinkler uses between 1/25th and 1/100th of the water used by each fire hose – so, in the event of a fire, sprinklers will minimise water damage

Easy to install: Modern residential sprinklers are small, neat and unobtrusive and visitors are seldom able to spot them – concealed versions are now available

Construction trade-offs: Sprinklers can save on construction costs because, under the Building Regulations, larger compartments or rooms may be constructed. Structural fire protection may also be reduced

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