Proposals to make fire sprinkler systems mandatory in new care homes in England
Further changes proposed for the regulations governing fire sprinklers in England
The Government has set-out new measures to make residential buildings safer in the event of a fire.
The new rules proposed by the government in December 2022 include making fires sprinkler systems mandatory for all new care homes, regardless of height. The aim of this is to improve the safety of vulnerable residents and help firefighters with evacuations.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will consult on its plans over the next 12 weeks. Plans also include rules on staircases, which would mean new tower blocks over 30 metres will need to have more than one staircase.
Minister for Local Government and Building Safety Lee Rowley said:
“There are undoubtedly lessons still to be learnt from the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the Department for Housing is committed to working with the sector and residents to explore what more needs to be done to make new homes across the country safe.”
“This consultation is the next step in the Department’s work to improve building regulations and make sure they are as clear and effective as possible.”
Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the government has been updating and improving fire safety guidance. Several significant changes to the Building Regulations and its guidance have been made since 2017. Including lowering the threshold for the provision of sprinklers in new blocks of flats from 30m+ to 11m+.
To read more about the new measures proposed see the press release from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Lee Rowley MP here.
Read more on our site about the British Standards governing fire sprinkler systems.
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