25 Jun 2012
After Tuesday’s fire at Betws Primary School, near Bridgend, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) has urged schools to make sure they install sprinklers as part of any refurbishment work.
Commenting on the proposal, the SWFRS’s Graeme Smith said there is roughly one school fire a day in Britain, so it is paramount that sprinklers are commonplace – especially in older buildings which may be poorly equipped to contain an outbreak.
The fire at Betws Primary School saw an entire block destroyed.
The fire was started by an overheated fan and, although the 1960s building had steel frames, there were no fire barriers so the fire spread quickly.
The school children were all evacuated, and although the junior block was destroyed – which housed the school’s ICT facilities – firefighters saved the other buildings from damage.
Smith said that the fire service are suggesting that for “new school builds”, “rebuilds” and “major refurbishments”, authorities should “consider the installation of sprinklers”.
Copyright Press Association 2012