Wokingham Borough Council requires the correct installation of sprinkler systems in newly built schools and school buildings within Wokingham Borough.
WBC has recognised the importance of sprinklers in schools for many years and a previous motion passed by this Council required a risk assessment to be undertaken, but this opens the way for sprinklers not to be required, and needs to be strengthened.
School fires continue to occur and latest reports suggest they are getting bigger and more costly. The impact of these fires is significant not just in financial terms but also in terms of the devastating effect on the communities they serve, the environment and the disruption to students, teachers and families. The impact on children's education is not confined to lost coursework but often includes longer travelling times, disrupted social groups and poorer facilities. There is an additional effect of interrupting a child's education due to damage to their classrooms which may hinder their learning of essential skills.
There is a misconception that water systems often cause more damage than they prevent, but with modern technology sprinkler fire suppression systems are far smarter and only activate in the areas that require suppression and only for the time that the risk is evident. In respect of Sprinkler Installations Building Regulations, Regulatory Reform orders and insurers are increasingly calling for active fire suppression systems such as sprinklers as part of the design of new schools. DCSF BB100 sets out a risk assessment methodology which dictates the use of sprinklers in the majority of new school build.
WBC believes if sprinklers were considered at the design stage of new builds, costs could be kept to a minimum. Each year more than 1300 schools in the UK suffer fires large enough to be attended by Fire services, and over half are non-accidental.
Sprinklers reduce the impact of fires in schools on children, and the public by reducing the costs of insurance and of rebuilding, and most importantly by reducing the cost to the child's education and future. For all these reasons this Council supports the installation of sprinklers in all new school buildings and will work cross-party and with Officers to see how this can be best implemented in all new build schools, whoever is the organisation seeking to build a new school.
Minutes:
The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey and seconded by Pauline Helliar-Symons.
‘Wokingham Borough Council requires the correct installation of sprinkler systems in newly built schools and school buildings within Wokingham Borough.
WBC has recognised the importance of sprinklers in schools for many years and a previous motion passed by this Council required a risk assessment to be undertaken, but this opens the way for sprinklers not to be required, and needs to be strengthened.
School fires continue to occur and latest reports suggest they are getting bigger and more costly. The impact of these fires is significant not just in financial terms but also in terms of the devastating effect on the communities they serve, the environment and the disruption to students, teachers and families. The impact on children's education is not confined to lost coursework but often includes longer travelling times, disrupted social groups and poorer facilities. There is an additional effect of interrupting a child's education due to damage to their classrooms which may hinder their learning of essential skills.
There is a misconception that water systems often cause more damage than they prevent, but with modern technology sprinkler fire suppression systems are far smarter and only activate in the areas that require suppression and only for the time that the risk is evident. In respect of Sprinkler Installations Building Regulations, Regulatory Reform orders and insurers are increasingly calling for active fire suppression systems such as sprinklers as part of the design of new schools. DCSF BB100 sets out a risk assessment methodology which dictates the use of sprinklers in the majority of new school build.
WBC believes if sprinklers were considered at the design stage of new builds, costs could be kept to a minimum. Each year more than 1300 schools in the UK suffer fires large enough to be attended by Fire services, and over half are non-accidental.
Sprinklers reduce the impact of fires in schools on children, and the public by reducing the costs of insurance and of rebuilding, and most importantly by reducing the cost to the child's education and future. For all these reasons this Council supports the installation of sprinklers in all new school buildings and will work cross-party and with Officers to see how this can be best implemented in all new build schools, whoever is the organisation seeking to build a new school.’
Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey and Pauline Helliar-Symons emphasised the importance of having sprinklers in schools and the devastating impact that fires could have on schools and the local communities.
Andy Croy commented that he believed that the Council should also look at ways to work with existing schools.
It was moved by Angus Ross and seconded by Lindsay Ferris that the Motion be amended by inserting the words in Bold as follows:
‘Wokingham Borough Council requires the correct installation of sprinkler systems in newly built schools and school buildings within Wokingham Borough.
WBC has recognised the importance of sprinklers in schools for many years and a previous motion passed by this Council required a risk assessment to be undertaken, but this opens the way for sprinklers not to be required, and needs to be strengthened.
School fires continue to occur and latest reports suggest they are getting bigger and more costly. The impact of these fires is significant not just in financial terms but also in terms of the devastating effect on the communities they serve, the environment and the disruption to students, teachers and families. The impact on children's education is not confined to lost coursework but often includes longer travelling times, disrupted social groups and poorer facilities. There is an additional effect of interrupting a child's education due to damage to their classrooms which may hinder their learning of essential skills.
There is a misconception that water systems often cause more damage than they prevent, but with modern technology sprinkler fire suppression systems are far smarter and only activate in the areas that require suppression and only for the time that the risk is evident. In respect of Sprinkler Installations Building Regulations, Regulatory Reform orders and insurers are increasingly calling for active fire suppression systems such as sprinklers as part of the design of new schools. DCSF BB100 sets out a risk assessment methodology which dictates the use of sprinklers in the majority of new school build.
WBC believes if sprinklers were considered at the design stage of new builds, costs could be kept to a minimum. Each year more than 1300 schools in the UK suffer fires large enough to be attended by Fire services, and over half are non-accidental. Sprinklers reduce the impact of fires in schools on children, and the public by reducing the costs of insurance and of rebuilding, and most importantly by reducing the cost to the child's education and future.
For all these reasons this Council supports the installation of sprinklers in all new school buildings, that is:
a. Specifically new schools and new large teaching blocks separate from the existing school buildings larger than 150 square metres floor area or more than more storey;
and
b. not on extensions of existing buildings not fitted with sprinklers, nor on temporary new buildings.
This Council will work cross-party and with Officers to ascertain how this can best be implemented, whoever is the organisation seeking to build new school buildings.’
Angus Ross stated that the practicality and cost to retrofit sprinklers was often not financially viable. The Council would aim to encourage private schools and academies within the Borough to fit sprinklers.
Lindsay Ferris commented that the amendment would close a loophole identified in a previously agreed Motion.
The proposer of the original Motion, Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey accepted the proposed amendment to the Motion and it therefore became the substantive Motion.
A number of Members reiterated the importance of the fitting of sprinklers within school buildings.
Following debate the amended (substantive) Motion was then put to the vote and was declared by the Mayor to be carried.
RESOLVED: That Wokingham Borough Council requires the correct installation of sprinkler systems in newly built schools and school buildings within Wokingham Borough.
WBC has recognised the importance of sprinklers in schools for many years and a previous motion passed by this Council required a risk assessment to be undertaken, but this opens the way for sprinklers not to be required, and needs to be strengthened.
School fires continue to occur and latest reports suggest they are getting bigger and more costly. The impact of these fires is significant not just in financial terms but also in terms of the devastating effect on the communities they serve, the environment and the disruption to students, teachers and families. The impact on children's education is not confined to lost coursework but often includes longer travelling times, disrupted social groups and poorer facilities. There is an additional effect of interrupting a child's education due to damage to their classrooms which may hinder their learning of essential skills.
There is a misconception that water systems often cause more damage than they prevent, but with modern technology sprinkler fire suppression systems are far smarter and only activate in the areas that require suppression and only for the time that the risk is evident. In respect of Sprinkler Installations Building Regulations, Regulatory Reform orders and insurers are increasingly calling for active fire suppression systems such as sprinklers as part of the design of new schools. DCSF BB100 sets out a risk assessment methodology which dictates the use of sprinklers in the majority of new school build.
WBC believes if sprinklers were considered at the design stage of new builds, costs could be kept to a minimum. Each year more than 1300 schools in the UK suffer fires large enough to be attended by Fire services, and over half are non-accidental. Sprinklers reduce the impact of fires in schools on children, and the public by reducing the costs of insurance and of rebuilding, and most importantly by reducing the cost to the child's education and future.
For all these reasons this Council supports the installation of sprinklers in all new school buildings, that is:
a. Specifically new schools and new large teaching blocks separate from the existing school buildings larger than 150 square metres floor area or more than more storey;
and
b. not on extensions of existing buildings not fitted with sprinklers, nor on temporary new buildings.
This Council will work cross-party and with Officers to ascertain how this can best be implemented, whoever is the organisation seeking to build new school buildings.