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Sprinkler systems to be fitted in all new and converted housing in Wales from 2016

In January 2014 the Welsh Minister for Housing and Regeneration agreed to fund a series of pilot schemes for the design and installation of fire sprinkler systems in social housing in Wales. This was in preparation for the introduction of the new requirement for fire sprinklers in new and converted houses and flats which will come into effect in Wales from 1 January 2016.

This week Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant visited one of the pilot housing developments in St. Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan along with Corinne Williams from BRE and several of the development team.

BRE has been working with the Welsh Government to gather a variety of data on all the pilot schemes through site visits and interviews with the key stakeholders.

The team involved has systematically monitored and recorded this data, including the issues and solutions concerning water supply, the negotiation process with the relevant water company and the application of guidance in the Approved Documents B (Wales).

This is a two year project which commenced in June 2014 and is due to be completed by end of June 2016.

There are twelve schemes involved in the pilot study, with 175 sprinkler installations across Wales.

The interim report is due to be published in December 2015 and a final report due in Summer 2016.