Fife Council has called for domestic sprinklers to be fitted in all new build homes.

Councillors at today’s Fife Council meeting unanimously agreed to call on the Scottish Government to change the law to require the systems be fitted in all new build housing.

At the meeting the importance of domestic sprinklers in improving safety was recognised and it was agreed that the Scottish Government would also be asked to consider grant funding to fit sprinklers to existing houses.

The Fire and Rescue Transition Committee recently praised the use of domestic sprinkler systems to improve safety in Fife Council new build homes.

The sprinkler systems automatically trigger in the event of a fire to dampen and extinguish a blaze in very early stages, preventing its spread through a home and helping to save lives.

Chair of the Fire and Rescue Transition Committee Councillor Neil Crooks, who proposed the motion passed at today’s meeting explained: “It’s great news that councillors across the political divide agreed today to reiterate the importance of domestic sprinklers.

“There’s been a lot of work already done to address this issue and following the recent backing of domestic sprinklers systems by the Fire and Rescue Transition Committee we wanted councillors to agree to promote them to improve safety in people’s homes.

“We also welcome the news that the Scottish Government, Chief Fire Officers Association and Fire & Rescue Conveners are investigating ways to make sure that sprinklers are fitted to all new build houses.

“In Scotland, during 2011/12 there were over 800 accidental dwelling fires resulting in over 1100 deaths and non-fatal fire injuries.

“Many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented if the installation of domestic sprinklers had been mandatory.

“On the back of today’s decision the council will write to the Scottish Government to ask that a legal requirement is introduced for domestic sprinklers to be fitted in all new build houses in Scotland and to consider offering money to install them in existing housing, especially for vulnerable members of the community.

“I will also ask Fife’s chief Fire Officer to consider the current status of fire risk assessments of the Council’s halls and centres in response to points raised by the Lib Dem group.”

Councillor George Kay added: “I’m thrilled that Fife has led the way in introducing sprinklers into new build council homes as this is a really important step in community safety.

“I look forward to Scotland taking the lead from Fife and putting sprinklers in all new build homes as well as looking to see if they can identify a way to put them into the existing homes of vulnerable people as a priority.”