CPS Homes

Sprinkler systems now required in new residential builds and conversions

Fire sprinkler roof mount side view

We have published an update on sprinkler requirements in house conversions - (20/04/2016).

We've recently received several enquiries from landlords concerning the requirement for sprinkler systems - otherwise known as fire suppression systems - in residential properties.

From 1 January 2016, changes to Building Regulations mean that sprinkler systems are now required in any new or converted houses or flats.

If you registered your intended work with Building Regulations prior to the start of 2016, the new requirements won’t affect your development (as long as you commence work within a year), but landlords changing properties from single dwellings to HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) since the turn of the year will need to ensure a sprinkler system is installed.

These requirements first came in for halls of residences, care homes and boarding houses, amongst other property types, in April 2014.

How do sprinkler systems work?

Triggered by temperatures of fire-specific levels (usually 135-165 degrees Fahrenheit or 57-74 degrees Celsius), sprinkler systems are credited with significantly reducing deaths and loss of property in recent years. Working in tandem with a fire detection system, not only is an alarm raised to alert the occupants of danger, but just one or two triggered sprinkler heads can quickly extinguish the flames and/or contain a fire to the room where it started, causing minimal damage to the property. They’re also said to use around six times less water than hoses used by fire crews, so water damage is vastly reduced.

How much do sprinkler systems cost?

The cost of installing a sprinkler system increases as the property size increases. They tend to be priced depending on the number of sprinkler heads required. Each head is designed to cover a certain area, so bigger rooms will require more than one. As a very rough guide, an average two-to-three bedroom property can cost in the region of £1,500 to £2,000, a four-bedroom property anywhere between £2,200 and £3,000, or £4,500 to £5,500 for a six-bed.

If you’d like any further information on this subject or anything else relating to Building Regulations or planning, please feel free to e-mail Tom Foulkes via tom.foulkes@cpshomes.co.uk.

08 April 2016

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