The new replacement building at a south Wales comprehensive school has been fitted with a sprinkler system following an arson attack which destroyed the previous 1970s building, causing over £8.5 million of damages.

The system incorporates a 67,000 litres sprinkler tank which is manufactured by Camplas, the UK's leading manufacturer of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) tanks. Critically the system will activate the sprinklers when abnormal heat is sensed, eliminating the time lapse before local authorities are alerted and arrive.

Latest figures from the Arson Prevention Bureau (APB) show that each week 20 arson attacks are made on schools, causing over £80 million in insured damages every year. Notably, this figure does not take into account other less quantifiable costs such as loss of coursework and the stress caused to those affected. Further figures from the National Union of Teachers (NUT) report that related costs of major school fires have spiralled by more than 170% over the past 10 years.

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Working in conjunction with Zurich Municipal Insurance, the Local Government Association, the National Fire Sprinkler Network and the Chief Fire Officers' Association, the NUT is urging local authorities to fit sprinklers in new school building projects. The group is also lobbing central government directly to highlight the need for sprinkler systems to become a mandatory requirement of the revised building regulations.

Tony Williams, Camplas's Managing Director said: "It's common to see schools left with millions of pounds worth of damage from an arson attack. They often have no modern means of fire prevention or containment.

"Extensive damage can be easily avoided however by installing a sprinkler system which offers a highly reliable and effective way of containing a fire. Our tanks are built to last in excess of 50 years and can be installed below ground to ensure they’re tamper proof.

"Many insurance companies now insist on having a sprinkler system. Moreover, there is virtually complete consensus over the benefits and cost savings of installing sprinkler systems in schools and similarly, any other large public building."

(CD/JM)