New Social Housing Safety - Sprinkler systems to protect against fire

20th June 2018

Legislation to make sprinkler systems compulsory in new social housing is to be taken forward.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart confirmed that the Scottish Government will take forward David Stewart MSP's proposal for a Members' Bill to make it a legal requirement for all future new build social housing properties to be fitted with sprinkler systems.

Currently all new high-rise domestic buildings, whether private or social, with a floor over ‎18 metres must have automatic fire suppression systems fitted.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said:"I am very grateful to David Stewart for his work on bringing forward this important issue and gaining cross-party support for his proposal. I can confirm that the Scottish Government will implement the aim of Mr Stewart's proposal and will bring forward legislation as soon as is practicable in this Parliamentary session.

"This is an opportunity to further improve standards in our social housing and this work will be taken forward alongside the recommendations of the two reviews of building standards and fire safety which we will consult on later this summer.

"I look forward to continuing to work together with David Stewart and the very many others who have contributed to date in order to see this legislation through."

MSP David Stewart brought forward a final proposal for a Bill to require new-build Scottish social housing to be fitted with automatic fire suppression systems 22 May 2018.

Expanding the use of sprinkler systems in Houses in Multiple Occupancies (HMOs) that are used as care facilities, or house more than 10 people, is one of the recommendations that will be consulted on as a result of work done by the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety since it was established last June. This will be consulted on in the coming weeks.

Labour's policy to install sprinklers in all new build social housing is to be taken forward by the Scottish government.



Over the past year Labour MSP David Stewart has led a campaign for greater fire safety measures in Scottish social housing.



His proposed member’s bill would have required fire sprinkler systems to be installed into all new-build social housing across Scotland, as a method of tackling Scotland’s high rates of fire death and injury.

The plans have received overwhelming support, with 94% of the consultation responses in favour and over 50 MSPs, from across all five political parties, signed up in support of the Bill’s final proposal.

Today the Government announced that they would include the requirement for fire sprinklers in social housing as part of their response to the recommendations from the Building and Fire Safety Review Panels announced last week.

David Stewart said "Fire sprinklers have been proven time and time again to be effective in the fight against fire and I know that this move will save lives.

“The strong backing for the plans from the public, industry and across the Parliamentary Chamber has been so encouraging and I am delighted that the Scottish Government have seen the sense in these proposals and have decided to take them on.

“The ball is now in the Government’s court to respond effectively and quickly to this overwhelming support.

“I intend to work closely with the Government on the plans and will continue to campaign to ensure that this new requirement makes it onto the statue books as soon as possible.

“My hope is that, as fire sprinkler technology becomes more widely used, eventually all Scottish homes will be protected by this life saving technology."