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Marsden Hospital Fire. Worse because of penny pinching?
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#1 Posted : 03 January 2008 10:18:00(UTC)
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Posted By water67.
Hi, on one of my hobby horses. Does anyone know if a sprinkler system is in place at the hospital. i suspect not as the fire apparently started in a plant room and spread. A sprinkler system in the room would probably suppressed and thus stopped the fire spread.

I am continually disappointed with the view of many establishments that i audit, particularly in the public sector, who have such an aversion to installing fire suppression systems. Mostly caused by a combination of ignorance of how they work and "penny" pinching re the cost. Compare this country to the USA, Canada and other countries that have widespread use of these systems. Perhaps I am being harsh on the hospital. But how does the cost of a sprinkler system stack up now to the cost of not having one in place. of course If i am wrong and they did have a sprinkler system in place I will eat lots of humble pie.

PS can other establishments take note and at least seriously consider fire suppression systems.

Cheers.

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#2 Posted : 03 January 2008 10:55:00(UTC)
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Posted By J Knight
Hi water,

I endorse your view about sprinklers entirely. Scottish Building Regs now require automatic fire suppression in certain classes of buildings, and we have been looking at systems for the planned extension to one of our residential homes. I have heard that nobody has ever died in a building with sprinklers (well, from fire, at any rate, I don't think they confer immortality) which if true makes any doubts about them pale into insignificance.

Whether the Royal Marsden had them ,and if not why not, remains to be seen (though my guess is it didn't), but the fire is almost bound to stir the regulators to action in one way or another,

John
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#3 Posted : 03 January 2008 11:57:00(UTC)
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Posted By garyh
Come on. At this stage of the investigation how can you possibly point the finger at sprinkler systems in this case?
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#4 Posted : 03 January 2008 12:56:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Duell
On a separate note from sprinklers - bearing in mind the size of the fire, a number of staff and patients - including two having surgery under general anaesthetic - were successfully and safely evacuated. I know the investigation will almost certainly show things that could have been done better, but if I'd written their emergency/evac plan, I'd be feeling pretty pleased with myself right now.
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