Fire sprinkler plans for Suffolk homes win praise from fire chiefs

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Feb 03, 2014

Care UK’s new care homes across Suffolk, which will begin opening later this year, have won praise from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service for going above and beyond fire safety regulations required within existing legislation.

John Johnson, Head of Health and Safety for Care UK’s £60 million Suffolk care home development project, said: “Resident and colleague safety is of the utmost importance to Care UK, which is why we will be installing automatic sprinklers to BS 9521 in each of the county’s ten new homes.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue representatives are very positive about this as the use of fire sprinklers exceeds the current legal minimum of fire safety regulations in England.”

Councillor Colin Spence, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “We are delighted that Suffolk County Council has been able to work closely with Care UK in the progression of our ambition to include fire safety sprinklers within the design of these new care homes. This represents the best possible option for both the safety of older members of the community of Suffolk and a clear commitment by Care UK to community welfare and business continuity planning.”

John Johnson will be speaking about Care UK’s use of fire sprinklers at an event hosted by Suffolk Fire and Rescue on Friday 7^th February at Lowestoft South Fire Station, as part of National Fire Sprinkler Awareness Week.

The event, to be held from 10.30am to 2pm, aims to raise awareness of the benefits of fitting sprinklers and will be looking at what more could be done to protect businesses and homes in Britain and specifically within Suffolk against the devastating effects of fire.  Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection; Councillor Colin Spence, and Waveney MP Peter Aldous will be speaking alongside Care UK, the British Sprinkler Alliance and other business representatives speaking of their first-hand experiences of fire in sprinklered and unsprinklered premises at the event.  All interested businesses and organisations are welcome to attend.

One year on since Care UK began the Suffolk development project, in partnership with Suffolk County Council, planning approval has been granted for nine out of the ten developments and construction is already underway on seven developments.  Care UK look forward to opening the first homes in Mildenhall, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft and Haverhill this year.  Each new care home, for between 60 to 80 residents, will provide nursing and specialist dementia care services in state-of-the-art facilities.  An adjacent wellbeing centre will provide day care activities and clubs for older people living in the community.

To register your interest in the fire sprinkler event contact the Station Commander, Andy English, by emailing andy.english@suffolk.gov.uk or call 01473 260588.

For more information about the Suffolk care home development project visit www.careuk.com/suffolk-new-homes or call 0333 321 0956.