Why fit sprinklers in schools?  Sprinklers are the most effective way to prevent the spread of fire.  Not only do they detect the fire, they also control or extinguish the fire.  They reduce property damage by 80% and not a single life has been lost in sprinklered buildings in the UK. 

The disruption caused by fire to schools can be particularly disruptive.  The losses, only some of which are covered by insurance, can be devastating.  They include hundreds of individual tragedies such as disrupted education, lost teaching notes and exam papers, traumatised communities, sense of loss and psychological damage. 

70 per cent of these fires are started deliberately.  One of the worrying trends is the increase of deliberate fires when pupils are present.  This has increased from 13 per cent to nearly 22 per cent.  Two of the most vulnerable areas are rubbish bins and cloakrooms.

The financial argument for installing sprinklers in schools is very strong.  Insurance companies will offer a significantly reduced premium (65% may be possible) which should cover the capital cost within seven years.  The estimated cost for installing sprinklers is between 1.8% and 3.0% of the total capital cost.