Member Article

AEI Cables supports campaign for sprinkler systems

Specialist in fire performance AEI Cables is supporting the campaign for increasing the use of sprinkler systems as new research reveals the benefits they bring in the interests of lives and property.

Latest national research carried out by the National Fire Chiefs’ Council and the National Fire Sprinkler Network reveals that the danger to life, injuries and damage to buildings is “significantly reduced” when sprinkler systems are fitted.

The NFCC has called on the Government to make sprinklers a statutory requirement in all new high-rise residential structures higher than18 metres on a risk assessment basis.

Cabling which ensures continuous power to these systems is a key component of improving fire safety in the wake of disasters including Grenfell Tower and fires in high-rise tower blocks elsewhere in the UK, says Graham Turner of AEI Cables.

He said: “The fire safety industry is committed to sprinkler systems as a way forward to improve protection of lives and property in the event of a fire but the quality of cabling supplying power to these systems is critical.

“If the power fails for whatever reason, these systems however efficient they are simply won’t work and the results can be catastrophic.”

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) have made calls to make the installation of sprinklers mandatory in all residential buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools and care homes taller than 11 metres. The same organisations have also called for sprinklers to be retrofitted where possible.

Turner said that buildings such as tower blocks, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, airports and those areas with large numbers of people moving about need cabling which will continue to operate in a fire and provide power for the highest fire protection of 120 minutes.

The new generation AEI Cables’ fire performance cabling ensures critical fire-safety circuits can continue to operate in the event of a fire from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes. Using the very latest in technology and science, the Firetec Total Fire Solutions range from AEI Cables offers enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories and technical support from one source.

All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB covering design, manufacture and supply.

It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Tustin .