Fire service advice to install sprinklers in Eastbourne Pier which was badly damaged by fire last week to have recommended a sprinkler system was installed on Eastbourne Pier twice in recent years ‘was ignored by the pier’s owner’s.
Andy Reynolds, director of prevention and protection at East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said the owners of Eastbourne Pier were told in 2006 and 2009 to install sprinklers.
However he claims the owners ignored the advice as sprinklers were not enforceable by law.
Mr Reynolds said: “On at least two occasions we recommended to the owners of the pier that they should install sprinklers.
“It’s not enforceable and for them probably not cost effective so they didn’t take up the option. Without a doubt sprinklers would have helped reduce the damage of the fire.
“When they’re fitted correctly and operating they do a good job. They detect fires with heat sensitive bulbs that react to a certain temperature.
“As soon as it hits the right temperature, the sprinkler operates and is connected to an alarm.
“There still would have been a fire, but the sprinkler system holds it in check so it wouldn’t have grown.”
Mr Reynolds said he would be pushing for the installation of a sprinkler system in the pier’s refurbishment following the news the town would receive £2 million from government.
BAFSA ran a workshop on fire safety on historic piers at Fire Sprinkler 2012. Anyone who’d like copies of the papers presented at this should contact info@bafsa.org.uk.
Posted on: Monday 4 August 2014
