Business Sprinkler Alliance highlights sector knowledge gaps at UKREII Forum

Conference featured expert panels discussing sustainable and transformational investment in the built environment. Tom Roche, secretary of the BSA, was one of over 12,000 built environment professionals attending and afforded his insight to the discussions, stressing the importance of business resilience and safeguarding commercial premises from the outset.

The forum featured a series of sessions on a range of topics including the Building Safety Act 2022, with Dame Judith Hackitt serving as a panel member. It was evident that significant effort and interest is still being directed towards remediation work and, in parallel, interesting to note that sprinklers are viewed as a tool for mitigating risk.

There were repeated concerns raised by developers about the lack of clarity in the new regulatory regime. The obvious outcome has been delays in programme approvals with consequent issues impacting deadlines and project financing. There’s a defined requirement to share knowledge and the need to foster and grow trust between all parties: developers, consultants, financiers, lawyers and insurers.

One of the most surprising findings was the number of visitors to the BSA’s stand across these stakeholder groups who admitted to discussing or making decisions about sprinklers without truly comprehending their benefits or how they operate.

Knowledge gap

Tom Roche stated: “We’ve known for some time now that there’s a knowledge gap surrounding sprinkler systems. What’s surprising is that this gap persists among those who actively claim to be involved in decisions about their provision. It’s concerning that such critical safety measures are being debated without a fundamental understanding of their capabilities and effectiveness.”

The BSA also notes a lack of awareness regarding the provision of sprinklers under regulatory guidance. Many attendees to the event natural expect the hotels they stay in and large exhibition spaces, for example, would be protected by sprinklers. They expressed shock that such buildings often lack sprinkler systems despite the number of people resident within them.

Sustainability was a keen focus at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum. Much attention is now being paid to measuring the sustainability of projects. This is, in effect, like a new form of accounting where all elements of carbon involved in the construction, operation and decommissioning of a given project are weighed and measured.

With the need to address the sustainability challenge, the case for the re-use of buildings and materials is very strong. ‘Shock’ events including fire don’t appear to be part of the thought process.

Another element was the discussion on compartmentation for large warehouses to avoid sprinkler requirements. According to consultants present at the forum, some clients are still pursuing this approach to avoid installing sprinklers in new warehouses, despite the obvious fire risks associated with such massive structures.

Outside the scope

“After the recent large fire in Cannock,” continued Roche, “it’s troubling to learn that some developers may still be actively seeking ways in which to engineer-out sprinklers. The scale of these buildings means that they are outside the scope of regulatory guidance and need real fire engineering solutions to ensure they’re truly sustainable and do not endanger lives, but also preserve valuable assets and investments.”

Ultimately, the three-day event provided an opportunity for the BSA to educate attendees on the myriad benefits sprinkler systems realise for life safety, asset and environmental protection and also to address misconceptions.

By exposing the gaps in regulatory guidance and highlighting the consequences of neglecting fire safety measures, the BSA hopes to inspire a more informed and responsible approach to sprinkler installation across buildings in the UK.

*For more information about the Business Sprinkler Alliance visit www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org