Yet another school arson attack

Fire chiefs and members of the National Fire Sprinkler Network are calling upon the government's Department for Education and Skills to at last recognise the benefits of fire sprinklers in schools following the latest arson attack on a Stoke on Trent school. About 1m [pounds sterling] worth of damage was caused to the school together with major disruption made all the worse as the school had just undergone a 3/4m [pounds sterling] refurbishment

SCHOOL FIRES ARE A MAJOR national problem. Each year more than 2,000 schools in the UK suffer serious arson attacks. Figures from the insurers dearly show losses averaging almost 100m [pounds sterling] per annum over the last few years. Sprinklers are an effective way of preventing the spread of fire and experience has shown by those education departments who have been enlightened enough to fit sprinklers that only minor disruption occurs if a fire is extinguished by a sprinkler system.

The most telling comment comes from Chris Berry, Executive Director of Education in Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, when she says:

"Oldham fits fire sprinklers into our new and refurbished schools because it makes both economic sense and protects schools and the communities from needless damage."

Sprinklers have proved themselves to be a reliable means of containing fires in school premises at all hours of the day, 365 days of the year. They are particularly useful against fires started deliberately when premises are unoccupied. Effectively, it is like having firefighters present in the premises on a permanent basis.

The National Fire Sprinkler Network consists of chief fire officers, insurers, education authorities, MPs, fire protection engineers and the fire industry. It was established in 1998 to campaign for increased use of sprinklers to reduce the appalling damage fire inflicts annually. They not only very successfully protect property but also life and will reduce environmental pollution.

Jim Knight MP is calling for the Department for Education and Skills to finally recognise the benefits of sprinklers in school premises by ensuring that they are fitted in all new build and refurbished schools. He says: "This terrible arson attack in Stoke on Trent is another example of an important government investment in a school through a major refurbishment being seriously undermined unnecessarily as sprinklers would have prevented the damage."

For more information visit: www.nfsn.co.uk

CFO Peter Holland is Chair of the National Fire Sprinkler Network

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