Grenfell Tower fire: Hackney Council unable to say which of its high rise blocks have sprinklers installed
Grenfell Tower fire. Photograph: Grenfell Action Group
Two days after the catastrophic Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington, Hackney Council was still unable to confirm which of its residential tower blocks are fitted with sprinkler systems.
By law, buildings constructed since 2007 and that are taller than 30 metres are required to have sprinkler systems fitted, whilst retrofitting older blocks is recommended best practice rather than a legal requirement.
Following the 2009 Lakanal House fire in which six people died, a coroner’s report issued in 2013 recommended the installation of sprinklers in all high-rise tower blocks.
However, an investigation in 2015 by Housing Insider revealed that only 13 per cent of stock-holding local authorities in England had complied with that advice.
The Chief Fire Officer’s Association says there is a strong business case for retrofitting sprinkler systems in older high-rises, citing an estimated cost of £1,150 per flat.
The report notes: “The cost of sprinklers per block or per flat will compare very favourably with other fire protection methods which might otherwise be required to provide acceptable levels of fire safety for older blocks, especially for blocks such as Lakanal House, which only have a single staircase”.
Frampton Park Estate tower block
The council installed a “pioneering” sprinkler system in 258 homes in Frampton Park Estate in 2015.
Fire risk concerns were first raised by residents on the estate six years previously.
At that time, the then cabinet member for housing and Philip Glanville noted the importance of sprinkler systems, saying that “Hackney Homes places the risk of fire and the safety and welfare of all residents as highest priority. Hackney is once again at the forefront of resident safety with this fire sprinkler system, providing residents with an extra layer of safety in case the worst should happen.”
Since then, £750,000 was allocated to fire risk in the 2016/2017 capital works budget, rising to £1,000,000 in the current 2017/2018 budget.
Meanwhile, the Conservative leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has faced a backlash after claiming on Newsnight that sprinklers were not fitted during the £10million refurbishment of the 24-storey building because residents did not want the disruption.
Ken + Chelsea leader @NickPagetBrown1 says sprinklers weren’t installed in Grenfell Tower refurb as wd have increased disruption #newsnight
— Ian Katz (@iankatz1000) June 15, 2017
And this when the council has just splashed out on a lavish £15,174,229 refurbishment of the Town Hall:
http://mginternet.hackney.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=113&MId=3574
A celebratory bash to mark the re-opening of the building was held on 14 June, the very day that Grenfell Tower went up in flames.
The irony of this will not be lost on many Hackney residents.
This means that for the cost of the Town Hall refurbishment alone, 13,195 of Hackney’s homes could have had sprinkler systems installed.
No sprinklers in my Tower Block in Hackney. I’m on the 19th floor.
There is no sprinkler system in Bridport house N15DG which is been up five years and is a wooden frame One staircase one lift that’s at 9 to 32 report Second third fourth fire doors locked with key if there was a fire you could not go through them to the joining block they should have a break glass exit on each door i’ve never seen a fire testing check in this Block since I’ve lived here to be honest I don’t think the fire system works properly Here
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