The current financial turmoil is having a devastating effect on the housing market leading to the failure of a number of builders and consequent losses for sprinkler installers. Fortunately RSA members have been exchanging information about projects where the builders have got into financial trouble, or worse have ceased trading.

After taking a hit for over £7,000.00 one member was quick to warn other Members thus saved them from also being caught.

The Chairman suggested that should Members come across a half-completed sprinkler project they should be wary and try to find out who the original installer was and why the project has been left uncompleted before getting involved. Moreover if it is one of our Members they should try to get them back into the project to help them recover their losses.

The RSA working party has now agreed a Testing Protocol that will ensure that a Residential Sprinkler system will comply with the flow requirements of BS9251.

A copy of this document can be downloaded by clicking here

Following a recent meeting of minds between members new and old, the RSA has re opened its technical sub committee and it’s first task is to resolve continuing misunderstanding in the real world commissioning of sprinkler systems.

The position of the pressure gauge as shown in BS 9251 is not appropriate for carrying out dynamic flow tests nor is the requirement of a 22mm test branch.

To make matters even more confusing the flow test requirements of 60 and 84 liters are irrelevant and seriously misleading.

The RSA will publish new guidance notes to members on this matter later this year.

If in the meantime any member has concerns about commission testing contact any council member for help and advice.

The first of the RSA refresher courses took place at ITT Lowara’s premises on the 11^th June.

The event was preceded by a splendid evening dinner hosted by ITT with a complimentary bar which saw sustained use by our members!

the event was a spectacular success with 25 members taking part. apart from the formal overviews of the standard and changes being made to it lectures were given by guest presenters including Keith Pratley, chairman of Water UK who was given a forthright and sometimes hostile reception by members who didn’t hold back on asking difficult questions and probing controversial statements Keith Made.

Keith acquitted himself well under the barrage and received a warm and genuine round of applause. he commented afterwards that he actually appreciated the frank and candid views that members put forward to him.

Feedback from members has been as follows

 “It was good to see the event was well supported, even though the venue was quite a distance for most.”

 “I was delighted with the number of members who attended and would like to thank lowara for their generous hospitality

Once again it highlighted the absolute need for an active group to represent the residential/domestic sector”

“the dinner provided by ITT was really good. we had a great evening and met lots of fellow members in a non combative atmoshphere. we lerned so much from the whole event and will be attending again to see the outcome of some of the issues raised. once again many thanks to ITT Lowara- great food – great pumps!”

“Its great to see such a positive response from companies who wish to improve the understanding of the industry and how techniques are implemented.”

 “As for the Tuesday and Wednesday as a whole, we all really enjoyed it on all fronts. We are very pleased that we made the effort. It was very refreshing for everyone to be so open about how they do things and that certainly showed that we are not all singing from the same hymn sheet.  But saying that, it was so good to see different firms all wanting to improve and straighten out our industry”. 

 We will be holding a repeat of this refresher later in the year in the North of England to give the opportunity to other members to attend.

We found that most members who came to the evening meeting found useful contacts and made new associations with fellow members. Certainly the networking continued into the early hours after the ITT dinner party!

Keith Rhodes

The Studley Green estate was the first housing development in Europe to be fitted with domestic sprinklers, following its rebuild in 1999.

The sprinkler systems were fitted by a consortium headed by the Residential Sprinkler Association (RSA) that included the Sprinkler Industry, local Council, Housing Association, Residents Committee, Architects and Builders.

On Sunday February 24, a couple living in a ground floor flat at Aldeburgh Place escaped a potentially fatal blaze after the sprinkler system was activated. The fire, which happened at 2.30am, was concentrated in the living room and is believed to have been started by discarded smoking materials. Although the flat had smoke detectors fitted, they were not working.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service actively lobbies for the inclusion of sprinkler systems in domestic and commercial properties. Chief Fire Officer Andy Goves said: "This is the second time that the sprinklers at Studley Green have done their job, with two people surviving a fire in their home that could have had fatal consequences otherwise. This incident shows yet again how effective sprinkler systems are - the equivalent of having a fire engine already at your house ready to go. Sprinklers save lives and protect property, and we will continue to lobby local authorities, housing associations and developers to include these safety measures in their properties.

"Modern sprinkler designs are unobtrusive and, contrary to what you might see on TV or films, cause negligible water damage in controlling fires and preventing property from otherwise burning down."

Successful partnerships already include Wiltshire County Council agreeing to install sprinklers in the new flagship secondary school being built in Melksham, Swindon Borough Council including sprinklers in seven new schools being built through its Private Finance Initiative, plus numerous schemes in residential homes and housing association properties.

Mr Goves added: "Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is a key campaigner for the National Fire Sprinkler Network, which is lobbying to have sprinkler systems installed in schools, care homes, houses of multiple occupation, multi-storey residential premises and commercial premises. In Wiltshire we have had a number of local successes, but this latest fire shows that no-one can afford to be complacent. I hope this classic example will encourage others to redouble their efforts and help all of us increase the number of sprinkler installations to make a safer community."

Barry Hughes, chief executive of West Wiltshire Housing Society, which owns and manages the Studley Green estate, added: "Although it is always distressing to be involved in a fire, thankfully the sprinklers really reduced the damage. We installed the sprinklers at Studley Green as part of a European Pilot. This is the second fire where the sprinklers saved lives and homes.

"I would like to call on the Government to make sprinklers in homes compulsory in building regulations."

Sir George Pigot, commenting on behalf of the RSA, said "Incidents like this serve to demonstrate the effectiveness of residential sprinkler systems and also the foresight of RSA in making these installations possible all those years ago".

Dear all,

As you may know, further to our inaugural meeting on the 21st March, the Residential Sprinkler Associates have now been officially launched. After much discussion it was agreed to call the new group Residential Sprinkler Associates, however, retaining the old FSA logo, replacing the F with R.

A committee was voted as follows:

Chairman                        Roger Brason             South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue

Vice Chairman                 Steve Yeomans          Autoquench Ltd

Treasurer                       Phil Barnett               Barnett Consultancy Services Ltd

Membership Secretary      Malcolm Black            Nimbus Fire Systems

Sir George Pigot will act as "administrator", overseeing the website etc,

I for my sins have been appointed membership secretary. We shall be listing all paid up members on the new website shortly, it is therefore imperative you let us have your subscriptions for the coming year promptly and certainly no later than March 31st for your details to be listed.

Could I remind you RSA will operate on a purely voluntary basis with individuals giving their time and efforts freely, please help us to provide the best possible services to our membership by helping out wherever you can and promptly paying your subscriptions

On reflection the meeting was extremely encouraging. I was delighted by the level of enthusiasm for the residential sector to retain it's own identity and to continue the high level of professionalism we have built up over the last decade.

I look forward to working with you all in the future and continuing our efforts towards the residential/domestic sector of the sprinkler market which has been the driving force in fire sprinkler promotion for many years

Please keep a close eye on our website for future developments

May I take this opportunity to thank Hugh Pigot for his continued support and guidance in the greater use of fire sprinklers.

 Regards to all,

 Malcolm Black

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To all prospective members of Fire Sprinkler Associates

                                                                                    6^th March 2007.

 Dear All,

Following the successful meeting on February 8^th I promised to arrange an inaugural meeting for FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATES. This has now been set for Wednesday March 21^st commencing at 11.00 am and will be at the Stratford Victoria, Stratford-upon-Avon.

A map of the location is attached, as is an Agenda. The purpose of the meeting is to agree to form the new organisation, agree its rules, enrol members and elect a management team.

I very much look forward to seeing you there.

Best regards to all,

Malcolm Black

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Dear all,

Despite the snow quite a few people turned up for the open meeting on Feb 8th 2007 and I received quite a few emails and phone calls in support from others who could not make the meeting.

After some discussion it was agreed that there was an immediate need for an organisation to support the residential and domestic sector of the fire sprinkler industry in the UK. The meeting agreed to form an organisation to provide training, accreditation, technical information, representation and a web site.

Some asked if the old FSA could be resuscitated and we promised to look into that possibility. Regrettably the position regarding liabilities is by no means clear and there could be further ramifications regarding the failed merger between FSA and BAFSA. We have therefore decided to press ahead with the creation of Fire Sprinkler Associates, and we will be putting out a calling notice for the AGM shortly. Please check our website for updates.

The meeting also decided that there would be only one category of member and to set the subscription at £250 for the first year. Costs should be low since the new FSA will not have a full time secretariat or conduct marketing. However Hugh has volunteered to conduct formalities, set up a bank account, etc, and to issue invoices to the majority of ex FSA members, who have expressed an interest in joining us.

It was also agreed that the new FSA would not be intended to compete with BAFSA but merely to provide services they do not currently offer. Should BAFSA evolve into the sort of organisation needed to support our sector of the industry those present saw no problem merging with them in due course.

On a personal note I would remind you we will be reliant entirely on members giving their time and efforts free of charge and meetings, mail-outs ect do have costs! Therefore it would be greatly appreciated if you would all show your support by paying promptly, we don't wish to waste valuable time chasing what is after all a small amount for the type of services we are striving to provide.

 I look forward to meeting you all at our first AGM in March (date to be advised (Probably March 15th 2007)

Best regards,

Malcolm Black

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Dear all,

A meeting room has been booked at the Stratford Victoria hotel, Feb 8th 2007 commencing 11.00 am. Many of you have expressed the wish to see a Domestic/Residential only body formed to ensure we retain the kind of representation this sector of the market has benefited from over the past number of years through FSA and RSA. The attached proposal describes such
an organisation and a presentation will be made at the meeting to explain the proposal in more detail.

As you will no doubt be aware work on this initiative has been undertaken and funded by volunteers but it is now imperative we have your support if this is to become a reality, Quite simply I believe this to be our last opportunity to create an alternative to simply signing up to others, who at this moment in time, do not have the necessary services in place to meet
the needs of the smaller installation companies 

Would you therefore please let me know by return if you will be attending the meeting. I can also be contacted on 0777 965 9802
I look forward to meeting you all on the 8th Feb in Stratford upon Avon.

Best regards to all,

Malcolm Black                      Click here to download "new" FSA Proposal paper

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The open meeting called by Malcolm Black unanimously endorsed the need for an organisation to represent and support the "Residential" sector of the UK Fire Sprinkler Industry.

As a result a task group will prepare a discussion document, which will be distributed shortly and another open meeting will be arranged for early February.

In the meantime the old FSA will continue to provide basic services, such as training, accreditation and technical advice, but on a voluntary basis.

Please check this web site frequently for updates....................

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OPEN MEETING TO DISCUSS FUTURE REPRESENTATION

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