Starting next year, all new care homes in England will be required to have sprinklers installed, following changes to building regulations announced by the government. The update, revealed in a Ministerial Statement on 2 September by Rushanara Ali, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government), is a key reform aimed at enhancing fire safety in care homes.
The change has been incorporated into ‘Approved Document B’, which provides guidance on fire safety in buildings. Announcing the update, Minister Ali stated, “A compassionate society protects its most vulnerable,” underlining the importance of the regulation in safeguarding care home residents.
The mandatory sprinkler requirement comes with a six-month transition period, during which homeowners and developers can prepare for the change. They will then have a further six months to complete ongoing or planned development projects under the existing regulations.
This move follows a position statement issued by the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC) in May, which urged the government to mandate sprinklers in all new care homes. The NFCC has long advocated for enhanced fire safety in such settings, citing the increased vulnerability of residents due to age, mobility issues, or cognitive impairments.
‘Sprinklers Buy Crucial Time for Evacuation and Firefighting’
Jonathan Dyson, NFCC Lead for Sprinklers and Automatic Water Suppression Systems (AWSS), welcomed the announcement, emphasizing the life-saving role sprinklers play in care homes. “The use of sprinklers in care homes reduces the likelihood of a fire spreading beyond the room of origin. This buys crucial time for evacuation and firefighting,” Dyson said.
He added that several high-profile fires in care homes over the past decade have demonstrated the devastating consequences of the lack of sprinkler systems. “In many of these cases, there were no sprinkler systems in place, and firefighters were unable to fully mitigate the effects of serious fires that resulted in lives being lost, serious injury, and major property damage.”
The NFCC has consistently raised concerns about fire safety in care homes, and the new regulation addresses these concerns, offering improved protection for vulnerable residents and the staff who care for them.
The 2019 Beechmere Retirement Village Fire
One of the most significant incidents that underscored the need for improved fire safety measures was the 2019 fire at the Beechmere retirement village in Crewe. The fire, which required the deployment of 70 firefighters at its peak, destroyed the village on Rolls Avenue, leaving more than 150 people homeless. While no injuries were reported, the fire caused massive property damage and had a lasting impact on residents’ lives.
Following an investigation, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service brought criminal charges against six companies for failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, highlighting the importance of proper fire safety measures in residential care facilities.
The new sprinkler regulations are expected to be a critical step toward preventing such incidents in the future, ensuring the safety of some of the most vulnerable members of society.
