School sprinkler systems receive unanimous backing

Councillor Chris Goodwin

THE call to ensure sprinkler systems are installed in schools has been backed by Oldham Council bosses.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of urging national government to reconsider its recent decision to remove this guidance from building regulations.

In a move to simplify guidance in the Revised Building Bulletin 100, the expectation for all new schools to be protected from fires with automatic sprinklers was also removed.

Labour councillor Chris Goodwin said: "There was no advanced notice of this alarming change. This council believes that this is a retrograde step that does not make sense.

"Sprinklers do not just save lives, they prevent fires from spreading.

Councillor Goodwin highlighted that there were more than 600 fires in British schools last year.

Each large fire costs £1.5m in damage but sprinklers pay for themselves.