Risk news

A hostel in north Wales has been praised by fire officers for installing a sprinkler system.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has revealed that the hostel on Berwyn Street, Llangollen, is one of only a few buildings of its kind in the region to have fitted sprinklers as a fire safety measure.

When plans were drawn up for the conversion, fire safety enforcement officer at the service Mike O'Meara met with the owners and architect to discuss the project.

Commenting on the sprinklers, Mr O'Meara said: "This additional safety measure will positively enhance the safety of the guests should a fire occur."

Hostel co-owner Arlo Dennis said that he now has more peace of mind that guests are safer because of the sprinklers and upgraded alarm system in place.

Automatic sprinkler systems are an effective way of tackling a blaze and offer excellent reliability - when regularly tested and well maintained, said David Tonkinson, sprinkler risk adviser at Aviva Risk Management Solutions.

He stated that systems with pump and tank water supplies, when this advice is followed, can be more dependable than town's main fed systems which are susceptible to reductions in mains pressures and flows.