Price puts fire sprinkler systems beyond reach of most schools

Most Dunedin schools are operating without fire sprinkler systems, because they cannot afford them, principals say.

Arson attacks at two North Island schools last weekend caused major property damage, which fire specialists say could have been avoided if sprinklers had been installed.

Otago Principals' Association chairwoman Julie Anderson said most secondary schools in the Otago region did not have sprinklers and would not be installing them.

"At the moment, it's about risk evaluation versus cost effectiveness, and most schools cannot afford to install sprinklers."

While she was aware of the benefits of sprinklers, Ms Anderson said she was satisfied with the current fire-prevention equipment installed in schools.

"Most, if not all, schools will have smoke detectors which trigger alarm systems, and security monitoring on site operating at all times."

Otago Primary Principals' Association president Jenny Clarke said she knew of only two primary schools in the Otago region that were equipped with sprinkler systems - George Street Normal School and Forbury School. Both schools were in Dunedin.

"Although it would be the optimum fire-safety provision to have, to retrofit older school buildings [with sprinklers] is extremely costly. It is the prohibitive cost that prevents schools upgrading to sprinkler systems even when renovating classrooms."

Ministry of Education property group manager Paul Burke said sprinklers were not retrofitted in all schools as the cost was expensive relative to the annual cost of school fires.

"The average cost of retrofitting an existing school with sprinklers is estimated to be $250,000. The approximate cost for installing sprinklers into all schools would be $500 million, compared with the average yearly fire losses which amount to about $3 million."

Dunedin Fire Station Senior Station Officer Lindsay Rae said the risk factor was far more important than the cost.

"It's been shown over many years, and in very many instances, that buildings which have sprinklers are far less likely to have major damage in the event of a fire than ones that don't."

The ministry's policy outlines that only new buildings and those undergoing renovations must have sprinkler systems installed.

"That's all very well, but it's not only the new buildings that burn," Mr Rae said.

The ministry's Fire Safety and Design Requirements policy is set for review later this year.

- Dominique Fourie