Posted: Sunday 19 May 2019, 06:36
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council's (NFCC) National Sprinkler Week which runs from Sunday 19 May to Friday 24 May coinciding with similar campaigns in America, Australia and Canada.
The campaign aims to educate the public about sprinklers, raising awareness of their effectiveness and reliability which is evidenced by research carried out by the NFCC and the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN). This research found that sprinkler systems operate on 94% of occasions demonstrating very high reliability. Furthermore, it is evident that when they do operate they extinguish or contain the fire on 99% of occasions and are thus very effective. The evidence also demonstrated that in both converted and purpose built flats, sprinklers are 100% effective in controlling fires.
The campaign also aims to highlight the disparity in building regulations in regard to sprinklers in the UK. Sprinkler regulation in Scotland and Wales is more stringent than in England, which means that their communities are provided with a higher level of fire protection.
Derbyshire's Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive, Terry McDermott, who is also NFCC lead for Sprinklers, said: "The evidence speaks for itself, our research proves that sprinklers are extremely reliable, providing effective fire protection as part of a fire safety package.
"Wales and Scotland recognise this and legislate to make their communities safer from fire; we want to see these same changes in England and Northern Ireland as matter of urgency as fire does not discriminate and it is just as dangerous irrespective of where you might live or work."
The NFCC is asking people to support the week long campaign by following the social media hashtag #ThinkSprinkler helping to raise awareness and dispel many of the myths that surround sprinklers and their use.
Australian Fire and Rescue Services will be supporting NFCC sprinkler week and The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFPA) will be holding its own sprinkler campaigns, during the same week, in America and Canada using the hashtag #HomeFireSprinklerWeek.
Sprinkler Event
During Sprinkler Week, Derbyshire's Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive (CFO) Terry McDermott is hosting a Sprinkler conference on Thursday 23 May 2019, when assembled guests, will hear from industry experts, in addition to Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones, who was a driving force behind the changes to Welsh law in respect of sprinklers.
CFO McDermott will be using the conference to launch a new report by the National Fire Sprinkler Network which further explores the reliability and effectiveness of sprinklers.
The conference will conclude with a live sprinkler demonstration, showing guests the devastating difference between a bedroom fitted with sprinklers and one without.
NOTE TO REPORTERS/EDITORS
Members of the media are invited to attend this event being held on the 23 May 2019 from 10am until 4pm. Please confirm attendance to Rachel Palmer or Tommy Lee at corporatecomms@derbys-fire.gov.uk alternatively call 01773 305305