Simon Rooks, council member of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BASFSA) and general manager at Johnson Controls, has agreed with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s calls for the Chancellor to allocate £1bn to retrofit sprinklers in all council high rises.
Since the Grenfell Tower disaster in June, the safety of high rise buildings is of huge significance, and something which the leader of the opposition is keen to address.
Speaking about Corbyn’s claims, Rooks agreed with what the Labour leader had to say, and thinks that a lack of action from Grenfell is of huge concern, while also calling on the government to step up their game and take action.
“Retrofitting sprinklers in the UK’s aging tower blocks has to be a priority. Building owners, occupiers and stakeholders have been calling for better fire safety protection since June, yet we’ve not seen many actionable outcomes from the talks,” Rooks said.
“Regulations already exist to ensure sprinklers are installed in new tower blocks taller than 30 metres, but what we urgently need right now are special measures to retrofit sprinklers into existing properties. There are still issues that need resolving, and a solution is available today.
“The government can help by offering clearer guidance and financial support to local councils and building owners. Retrofitting sprinklers is cost effective and practical – building managers need to find the right supplier now and take action today.”
