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For Viva to install sprinklers in tower blocks
A housing association will fit sprinklers in all 17 of its tower blocks across the North West.
For Viva announced that it will spend £5m fitting sprinklers to 12 high-rise buildings in Salford and five in Knowsley.
The announcement of the work, which will begin before the end of 2017, followed a consultation with fire safety experts and regional fire services.
Tim Doyle, chief executive of For Viva, said: “The safety of customers is an absolute priority for the group. That is why we have taken the decision to carry out this programme of work, which will provide peace of mind for customers living in high-rise blocks.
“We will continue to work with customers throughout the process and make sure they are aware when work will be starting in their homes.”
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Last month, housing minister Alok Sharma described sprinklers as “additional rather than essential”, refusing to provide Nottingham City Council with financial help to install them in high rises in the city.
Dany Cotton, commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, on the other hand has described sprinklers as essential. Inside Housing’s Never Again campaign calls on the government to fund in full the retrofitting of sprinklers to tower blocks across the UK.
Wandsworth Council has already committed to installing sprinklers in all 100 of its residential buildings of 10 storeys or higher. It has agreed to fund the £24m required for this work through leaseholder service charges.
Never Again campaign
Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire
Never Again: campaign asks
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
LANDLORDS
- Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
- Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
- Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
- Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents
GOVERNMENT
- Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
- Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
- Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.
