Academies: Fire Extinguishers

Bob Russell
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it a requirement for academy schools to be fitted with fire sprinkler systems in accordance with the guidance in Building Bulletin 100: Design for Fire Safety in Schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight
It is our expectation that all academies will now be designed to incorporate sprinklers. This is not a compulsory measure, but to demonstrate that sprinklers are not needed, the academy trust will need to be able to demonstrate that its buildings are low risk and that incorporation of sprinklers would not represent good value for money. For academies in the Building Schools for the Future programme the decision to install sprinklers will be shared between the academy trust and the relevant local authority.

Bob Russell
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many academy schools have been fitted with fire sprinkler systems in accordance with the guidance in Building Bulletin 100: Design for Fire Safety in Schools.

Jim Knight
This information is not immediately available to the Department. However, we intend to gather the information and once this exercise is complete, I will write to the hon. Member.