§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the paper "Fires Involving Sprinklers" published by the Home Office in July 1990; and what account was taken of the conclusions of this paper in framing current building regulations covering fire precautions in very large low-rise buildings.
§ Mr. BaldryAlthough the report was not available until after the technical review of the regulations was substantially complete, officials were in close contact with their Home Office and fire research station colleagues throughout the review. The report showed which type of sprinklers could be most beneficial in large shops of different configurations. Changes made to the building regulations which came into effect in June this year give greater recognition to the beneficial role of sprinklers.