HC Deb 26 March 2003 vol 402 cc271-2W
Mr. Hendry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what guidance he has given to local authorities about requiring new houses to be equipped with water sprinklers; [103676]

(2) what tests have been carried out, monitored by his Department, in the effectiveness of water sprinklers in reducing the spread of fires; [103675]

(3) how many deaths have occurred as a result of house fires in each of the past five years in houses (a) fitted and (b) not fitted with water sprinklers. [103672]

Mr. Leslie

Guidance for local authorities and others on measures that will meet the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations is given in Approved Document B (Fire safety). This currently does not suggest that new dwellings should be provided with residential sprinklers. However, the Building Regulations are kept under review and in April 2001 research was commissioned into the effectiveness of sprinklers in residential properties. This work is addressing a number of areas, including the undertaking of a series of experimental tests, which should assist with the identification of the potential effectiveness of such sprinkler systems. To date the tests that have been undertaken include 25 benchmark fire tests to evaluate the draft British Standard specification for residential sprinklers, BS DD 252, and eight fires staged in a converted three-bedroomed detached house as part of an experimental programme using realistic fires. Preparation for the final stage of this experimental programme is currently under way. The final results and conclusions from this work should be available around the end of the year.

The following table shows dwelling fires and associated deaths in fires attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom for the past five years for which data are available.

Dwellings
Fatal casualties Fires1 attended

by Fire brigade

1997
Water sprinkler present 0 95
Water sprinkler absent 562 72,397
1998
Water sprinkler present 0 116
Water sprinkler absent 513 70,961
1999
Water sprinkler present 0 115
Water sprinkler absent 463 72,113
20002
Water sprinkler present 0 117
Water sprinkler absent 445 70,780
20013
Water sprinkler present 0 60
Water sprinkler absent 482 68,916

Dwellings
Fatal casualties Fires1 attended by Fire brigade
All years
Water sprinkler present 0 503
Water sprinkler absent 2,465 335,167
1 Figures are based on sample data weighted to brigade totals.
2 Provisional.
3 Estimated.

Care should be taken in drawing conclusions about the number of fatal casualties in dwelling fires attended by the fire brigade with water sprinklers present due to the very small number of sprinklered homes in the UK.