Coventry Student Accommodation Fire

There’s no getting away from the fact that the student lifestyle contributes to the level of fire risk, it is therefore pleasing to report that following a fire in a  kitchen, (cooking pan left unattended) the residential sprinkler system activated. On arrival of the West Midlands Fire Service. it was identified that a  sprinkler head had operated extinguishing the fire no injuries were reported.

On 26 May 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published amendments to the guidance in Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1 following their consultation on sprinklers and other fire safety measures in new high rise residential block of flats which was launched in September 2019.

The changes are Sprinkler systems in accordance with BS 9251 (or BS EN 12845 for residential blocks of flats outside of the scope of BS 9251) should be fitted throughout blocks of flats with a top storey more than 11m above ground level. It  is disappointing this only applied only to  purpose group 1a (Residential (block of flats).

Within the current guidance there is no requirement for residential (other) buildings such as student accommodation to be sprinklered regardless of the height. Further information can be found in the BAFSA Information file, BIFF 23.Fire sprinkler systems in student accommodation, click here to open