New report makes case for Sprinklers in Schools

The National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) has published new research showing that school fires in England occur with alarming frequency and carry long‑term educational and economic consequences — prompting renewed calls for sprinklers to be made mandatory in all new and refurbished school buildings.

The report, What is the Cost of Fires in Schools, finds that six to seven school fires occur every week, damaging classrooms, displacing pupils, and disrupting communities. Over a 30‑year period, the likelihood of a secondary school experiencing a fire reaches 70%.

NFSN’s analysis shows the average cost of a school fire is £282,200, with total annual losses reaching £126 million. These figures exclude the wider human and social impacts, including trauma, lost coursework, and the disruption faced by vulnerable pupils.

Government data cited in the report shows that each lost day of education reduces a child’s future lifetime earnings by £750. The research concludes that in secondary schools, a single day of closure is enough to justify the cost of installing sprinklers.

The evidence on sprinkler performance is equally clear: over 97% of school fires occur in buildings without sprinklers, while systems that activate are 98% effective at extinguishing or controlling fires.

Terry McDermott, QFSM, MA, Secretary, National Fire Sprinkler Network, said: “Every week, schools are impacted by fire and every closure harms children’s learning and community stability. Sprinklers work, they are cost‑effective, and they prevent devastation. Protecting schools is not optional; it is essential.”

NFSN is urging government and education authorities to strengthen regulations and ensure sprinklers are included as standard in all new and refurbished school buildings.

For more information visit www.nfsn.uk