CONCERNS OVER NEW FIRE LEGISLATION

摘要

The Welsh Assembly has just passed new legislation requiring fire suppression systems in all new housing in Wales. Although aiming to improve domestic fire safety, the new rules for mandatory residentialsprinklers are essentially unrealistic and miss an obvious opportunity to save lives at a much lower cost with more hard-wired smoke and heat alarms. The Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure was passed on 16 February and is just awaiting Royal Approval. When it takes effect, it will apply to new or converted residences including houses, flats, residential care homes, educational residential accommodation and houses in multiple occupation. But these requirements will add a claimed 1-2% -which could actually be much higher - onto the cost of a home. This is a real disincentive to housebuilders operating in Wales. Owners and occupiers will also be faced with annual maintenance costs of?75-?150.