Firefighters are planning to campaign ‘strongly’ for the inclusion of sprinklers in plans for a new skyscraper in Portsmouth.
The 33-storey building, known as the Blade, is set to accommodate students from Portsmouth University.
However, long-running talks between Hampshire Fire and Rescue and the developer Watkin-Jones over whether sprinklers will be installed inside the skyscraper have broken down, with the developer confirming it will not carry out the works.
A statement released by the fire service following a meeting last week said: “We have strongly recommended to the developer to include a sprinkler system in the design to ensure the safety of the future occupants and we have put forward a compelling case to support our view. This and other fire safety provisions are especially relevant when we know that the future occupants are likely to be students – a known high risk group.”
Under current building regulations, sprinklers have to be installed into new high rise blocks of flats exceeding 30 metres. However, Portsmouth University, which has commissioned the build, says that because the Blade will be halls of residence and managed accommodation, it will fall under the category ‘hotels and other use’.
Area manager for community safety at Hampshire Fire and Rescue service, Mick Crennell said, “Although the building’s design complies with current building regulations for a halls of residence, such buildings were, historically, not built to a height of 110 metres which provides additional safety complications both in terms of mass evacuation and for fire fighting.
"As such our considered and professional opinion remains that the building would no doubt be safer if sprinklers were incorporated into the building design at this stage and it would reduce the size and impact of any fire, improve business continuity and the recovery phase after an incident."
In addition, Mr Crennell said that the fire service were consultated ‘far too late’ but would continue to campaign and lobby strongly for the provision of sprinklers.
Speaking earlier this year, John Turner, pro-vice chancellor of the university, said stringent evacuation procedures would be in place: “The building will not be fitted with a sprinkler system. Stringent evacuation procedures will be in place in the new building. In the event of a fire an automatic alarm is triggered and on detection of a confirmed fire, there is immediate evacuation of the building to a place of safety.”