Sprinklers go ahead for Barnsley flats following Grenfell Tower tragedy

Barnsley’s ruling cabinet has given the go-ahead for new sprinklers to be installed in seven blocks of flats in the borough, following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
By Danielle Andrews, Local Democracy Reporter
Published 24th Mar 2021, 12:34 BST
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Albion House on Sheffield Road, Buckley House on Union Street, and Britannia House on Duke Crescent will benefit from the sprinklers in a bid to improve fire safety in each seven story block.

Four of the council’s independent living schemes will also benefit from the sprinklers; Heather Court and Willowcroft in Bolton on Dearne, Glebe Court in Tankersley, and Woodhall Flats in Darfield.

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The draft Fire Safety Bill 2020 was introduced following Grenfell Tower fire in West London on 14 June 2017, which claimed 72 lives.

The flats.The flats.
The flats.

The bill clarifies that the responsible person for multi-occupied, residential buildings must consider the external walls of the building and entrance doors to individual flats that open into common parts when conducting a fire risk assessment.

The installation is set to cost £1.75m, and was approved by cabinet today (March 24).

Coun Tim Cheetham told the meeting: “These buildings house some of the council’s most vulnerable tenants and this proposal demonstrates clearly [they] have been treated with the utmost importance, and their safety and they’re always a primary concern of ours.”

PICTURE: Albion House, Google

Related topics:Barnsley