Cheshire Fire launches sprinkler campaign

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is launching a year-long campaign on 1 April to raise awareness of the benefits of fitting sprinkler systems in business premises.

Led by the Business Safety team, the initiative will not only highlight the benefits sprinkler systems bring to a business, but also encourage decision makers to consider fitting sprinkler systems in all new builds, as well as the retrospective fitting of the devices in older premises.

Heading the campaign is Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Business Safety Manager, Tracey Carter. She said: “Over the next year my team and I will be providing lots of information and advice to business owners and builders so they understand how sprinklers work and consider fitting them as a fire safety mechanism.

“We’ll also be dispelling the myths that have grown up around sprinklers. For example, it’s a common myth that sprinkler systems go off accidentally and cause excess water damage. It’s also a myth that they cost lots of money to install! What they are designed for is to protect life and property and improve firefighter safety. 

“A modern sprinkler system would actually limit damage, helping a business get back up and running quicker, as they limit water to the site of a fire, and some insurance companies even offer large discounts for buildings protected by sprinklers.”

Throughout the 12 month campaign, the Service will hold events, following Covid-19 guidelines, to provide information and host interactive social media chats where people can ask questions around how sprinklers work to extinguish a fire at source.

Likened to having a firefighter in every room, sprinklers detect heat above a certain level and activate letting out a spray of water into the affected room.

“Fire is indiscriminate,” explained Head of Prevention and Protection, Area Manager Lee Shears, “It destroys lives, homes, families, businesses and history that cannot be replaced. Every year people are needlessly killed and seriously injured in fires. People are made homeless as a result of fire, businesses collapse and people lose their livelihoods because of it - lives and properties that could have been saved with the simplest addition of a sprinkler system.”

Lee added: “It is a well-known fact that many businesses that suffer from significant fires and fire damage never return to operation. Sprinklers can safeguard against that and significantly improve business continuity.”

The campaign’s monthly focusses will include sectors such as:

• Schools
• Factories
• Care homes
• Small businesses

For more information about the campaign, how sprinkler systems work and to dispel any myths you may have please visit our website or email tracey.carter@cheshirefire.gov.uk.

It is known that where sprinklers are fitted:

• Fire deaths (including firefighter deaths) have been almost eliminated
• Fire injuries are reduced by 80 per cent
• Significant improvement in firefighter safety is achieved
• Property damage is reduced by over 80 per cent
• Effects of arson are reduced
• There is a reduction in the environmental impact of fire
• There is a reduction to the economic cost of fire
• The cost of installation is estimated to be about 1- 2 per cent of the total cost of construction.