Fire Chiefs Call For Sprinklers In All Uk Schools

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41744582

You might be forgiven for thinking that all schools had sprinklers fitted, but you would be wrong. Its not even compulsory for sprinklers to be fitted in new-build schools in England !

Who knew that this was the situation, before Grenfell happened ?

[ummmm]

Can't say it's something I've ever thought about tbh. It's hardly rocket science though.

[mikey4444]

Ummm....no, not rocket science, just common sense.

Just imagine what the conversation would have been like, in the planning meetings, about building new schools ....

" Does anyone think that we should install life saving sprinklers in this new school ?......no ?...well, we won't bother then"

The reverberations from the Grenfell tragedy will be heard for many years yet, IMHO.

[murraymints]

sprinklers in schools and kids setting them off as a prank may be an issue ?

[mikey4444]

Minty....yes, I can see that but its hardly a good reason not to install sprinklers in the first place.

Many buildings have sprinklers systems in place, including some schools.

I suspect that sprinklers were not included in new build schools because of cost reasons.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah Grebnfell wasnt a school

yeah the minister was getting shogged this morning Beeb on this 08 30 on what he thought was a vote winner

schools aren't towers but are flattish - arent lived in - and tend not to burn down. The mortality in schools over the last twenty years has been nil. ergo not at risk

Minister was saying - yeah but you cant put a cost on a child's life - yeah geddit a( ??) another vote winner.
well yes you can actually
make the new school so expensive - that they dont build it !
then you are stuck in the even more dangerous victorian edifice for much longer at danger much longer

dangerouis species these thinking tory ministers

[mikey4444]

PP....I am not sure that this is a Party-political issue.

[Peter Pedant]

I dont think this is a party political issue
Oh that's OK then lets not discuss it

and so the correspondent went on - a school fire is out of hours - no one is there - and is then an insurance issue

so it may not be a party political issue
but is an issue of "lets us spend money where it will make a difference"[and not garner votes oops sorry not a party political issue]

do we know if sprinklers are the answer if you have stuffed the outside of a building with inflammable material ? and there is a fire

The Dubai tower block caught fire and had sprinklers
did the sprinklers put out the fire ?
not rocket science as s/o said above sagely
the fire was on the ourtside and the sprinklers on the inside by the way
oops sorry another party political point probably

[youngmafbog]

You are correct Mickey it is not a Party-political issue.

Should we have sprinklers in schools? I am not so sure. Firstly there is the issue Minty suggested above and then there is the issue of spraying water when there is electricity about. The sprinkler system needs to disable the electric supply meaning it may be more than just installing sprinklers.

In addition you have to consider whether or not they really are necessary. In a 2 story building I personally have my doubts as to whether or not they would be effective in saving lives.

[fender62]

i remember many years ago quentin crisp was giving an interview
and was asked by an american interviewer, i don't see many fire escapes at the back of buildings when i visit the uk, crisp replied.. because your not expected to live.

[mikey4444]

YMB...the issue of spraying water where electricity exists would surely go for all situations and buildings where sprinklers are installed, would it not ?

I heard some chap being interviewed this morning on the Today Programme ( I didn't get his name or his profession but I think he was involved in the fire service) and he made the point that the issue wasn't really about saving lives, but saving property. Fires do happen in schools and the disruption to the kids education can be massive.....class work destroyed, buildings out of use for months and sometimes years, and the kids education being adversely effected.

But if I had kids in school, I would be much happier if the building was protected by sprinklers.

[Just-Jude]

Schools usually burn down when there's no one in them, more wasted money spent on a negligible risk.

[youngmafbog]

Yes, the issue is everywhere sprinklers are in use. I was just highlighting that it is not just the cost of sprinklers that needs to be taken into account.

I suspect sprinklers cause an awful lot of damage too. Might save some of the building but not sure the cost really weighs up.