Everything You Need to Know About School Sprinkler Systems
In properties where fires are a constant threat, sprinklers are a common sight and are the perfect choice for protecting all inhabitants of a property. According to UK law, businesses spanning more than 20,000 ft are required to have a fire sprinkler system installed, but does this apply to schools? Sprinklers operate to extinguish fires at the source, increasing fire safety within a property and keeping the amount of water dispensed to a minimum as it detects heat from a blaze and localises it. There are plenty of sprinkler system benefits, all of which are advantageous to schools of all sizes.
Automatic fire sprinklers could make a huge difference in schools of all kinds; like in most properties, accidents can happen, especially in rooms with excessive electrical power or where cooking takes place. All schools are required to undertake fire drills to get pupils and staff out of the building effectively, but when a fire breaks out, how will it be extinguished?
Are Automatic Sprinkler Systems Required in Schools?
Depending on the size of the school, educational facilities do not require sprinklers by law. Although statistics do vary, there are still between 900 and 700 fires in UK schools each year, which costs millions of pounds in refurbishments and causes significant danger to life. The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) has been lobbying for many years to get sprinklers installed into all schools. The UK Fire Chief has also recommended that all new and refurbished schools should be fitted with automatic fire sprinkler systems to help suppress fires and reduce the damage caused. Like a residential fire sprinkler system, installing a fire sprinkler in schools can come with concealed sprinkler heads to avoid any disruption to the decor. However, it is highly recommended that schools consider sprinkler installations to protect staff and pupils alike.
Sprinkler system costs can vary from building to building, but they’re a great investment and can provide protection in your property for years to come. Although fire drills are practised in order to keep everyone safe and keep children aware of their exits, they can’t extinguish a fire; whilst everyone is making their way out of the building, sprinkler systems work to put the blaze out, saving water and providing exemplary fire protection.
What Are the Benefits of a School Fire Sprinkler System?
Like all buildings, fire sprinklers save lives and properties. Children need to feel safe in their school, and protection from fires may not be the first factor that people think of. Fire sprinkler benefits are in abundance, but the most important attribute they possess is that they’re able to identify heat from a fire and activate at the source rather than flooding the entire building. This can extinguish a fire to save people waiting for the fire department to put it out themselves. There are also important documents in schools that need to be protected; fire sprinklers can increase protection from any accidental fires that may take place.
Arson is one of the leading causes of fires in schools, followed closely by kitchen fires breaking out in school cooking rooms, canteens or staff rooms. The cost of a fire to a school spans over more than just the lost equipment; children will lose out on an education, which can be quite detrimental to their future. By looking towards a fire sprinkler system, you can protect the future of the pupils, as well as keep them safe from the threats that fires can bring.
How We Can Help
Here at RAD Fire Sprinklers, we have years of experience in installing fire sprinklers, providing us with extensive knowledge in deciding on the very best sprinkler system for you and your property. Of the 673 schools that have been built since 2011, only 15% of them have been fitted with fire sprinklers, which is a startling figure, to say the least. By installing a fire sprinkler system, you can also encourage more schools to take the initiative and provide extra protection for their pupils.
To find out more, or to receive a quote, you can fill out our contact form here.
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