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#1 Posted : 17 October 2007 10:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By steve e ashton
Readers with an interest in fire safety issues may like the following article...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/..._and_central/7047079.stm

If the issues are being reported fairly (and its a big 'if') then it seems there is a significant question here that needs to be answered in the courts...

If you comply with a nationally recognised code - but don't follow professional / competent advice - are you likely to be held liable to any legal comeback in future?

Steve

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#2 Posted : 17 October 2007 12:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tarquin Farquor
A good article, thanks for posting the link Steve.

I think the NHS have a point?

Also, how many fire stations are fitted with sprinkler systems? It wasn't so long ago that they didn't even have smoke detectors?

Regards

TF
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#3 Posted : 17 October 2007 12:50:00(UTC)
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Posted By David Bannister
Having read the article I am surprised that the NHS trust were saying "If you have patients for example in an intensive care unit linked up to highly sophisticated electronic machinery it may not be the most sensible thing to have those patients and that equipment deluged with water." Quite true.

However, by the time the sprinklers operate the desperately ill patient will be already dead from smoke inhalation. Anyway, if they are relying on staff to extinguish a fire in its incipient stages, how can it grow to such a size that the sprinklers operate, particularly within a very highly staffed area as an ICU? If we have a fire that size then the delicate equipment will be dead too. Without sprinklers the fire service would put very much more water on to the fire over a wider area. What chance of delicate equipment survival then?

Good job the spokesperson works in the NHS - medical assistance is readily available for gunshot wounds to the foot!
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#4 Posted : 17 October 2007 22:33:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ciaran McAleenan
Steve et al

Jus a few thoughts...

I believe the Fire Code is not absolute on the use of sprinkler systems and that it contains a high degree of advice on limits and expectations of alternative design solutions.

The article does indicate that the Trust has taken advice (possibly even competent advice) which suggest a safe alternative to the sprinkler system.

The Trust has also indicated that they are reviewing the design decisions.

Just maybe there isn't a case to answer and little should be read into a piece of journalsitic prose. The full design details would be a far more interesting discussion point.

Best wishes

Ciaran
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#5 Posted : 18 October 2007 12:49:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
As it reads, it is the FBU who are jumping up and down, not the enforcers, who are using softer terms such as "recommend" and "suggest".
The FBU are of course entitled to their opinion, but that's all this is?
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#6 Posted : 07 December 2007 11:53:00(UTC)
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Posted By steve e ashton
An update on this story - it seems pressure is mounting for the NHS to adopt the standards already mandatory (here in Scotland anyway) for care homes and etc. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/..._and_central/7127510.stm

Steve
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