Scottish RAAC rebuild programme good news for sprinklers in schools
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The Scottish Government has said that a number of schools found to have RAAC will be replaced through a £2 billion learning estate investment programme. When this school rebuilding programme goes ahead it will trigger current Scottish sprinkler legislation which requires all new build schools to install sprinklers.
According to Scottish government officials a total of 40 schools were initially found to have RAAC, a number which has now been reduced to 29. The UK Government changed its position on the risk of RAAC in schools in August 2023 and published new guidance advising schools and colleges to vacate areas that are known to contain RAAC until suitable mitigations are in place with aim of removing it from all school buildings across England. However automatic fire sprinklers are not mandatory in England as they are in Scotland and Wales.
Ali Perry, Chief Executive of BAFSA, says the building programme in Scotland is good news for the sprinkler industry and even better news for improved fire safety in Scotland. “I am delighted that this investment by Scottish Government will see a number of schools affected by RAAC replaced with new schools that will be protected by sprinklers, this will help protect more of Scotland educational infrastructure and those who use it from the devastating consequences of fire."