Protecting the vulnerable - in defence of sprinklers

摘要

I refer to the letter from Dr Bob Docherty (Fire Risk Management, March 2009, p.6), which essentially challenges what we believe is a most constructive and helpful article in the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) supplement produced in November 2008. The article in question was written by Steve Beckley, who is CFOA's national lead officer for fire safety -technical standards, and currently deputy chief of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.rnTo put this in some sort of perspective, the NFSN, as part of its tenth anniversary, produced the supplement to celebrate 10 years of sprinkler success through working together. Mr Beckley's article, 'Protecting the vulnerable - the case for sprinklers', outlined the changing care needs with an ageing population, the legal position, the business case, and the benefits of sprinklers, indicating how these systems can help managers in the residential care sector to justify staffing levels and evacuation procedures.