Do Student Halls Need Fire Sprinklers? UK Regulations Explained

Student Accommodation Poses A Greater Fire Risk Than Other Types

Student halls need fire sprinklers because they are at a greater risk of fire than other types of accommodation. One reason for this is that PBSAs and HMOs house more people, which increases risk. They also have a higher turnover of people moving in and out. This means people are less likely to be mindful of or invested in other residents' safety. 

Another factor at play here is the shared kitchens that often come with student accommodation. There you will find lots of people new to cooking and cooking safety, which can increase the incidence of fires.

Some types of student accommodation will be situated in older buildings that have been converted. This can increase the risk because of issues such as older wiring and outdated building layouts. It is these factors that make regular servicing of sprinklers in student accommodation so important. 

Fire Sprinkler Regulations For Student Accommodation 

Since student accommodation comes with additional fire risks, action must be taken to mitigate them. Such action includes ensuring these buildings have fire sprinklers installed. It also means ensuring that those sprinklers are compliant with fire sprinkler regulations. 

The main regulation need to be complied with is BS9251. This regulation states that it is standard practice to use a UK sprinkler system. It also covers the sprinkler requirements, design, installation, and maintenance expectations involved.

Landlords must also abide by local authority licensing requirements. This includes meeting the HMO license for safety conditions. Remember, it is the responsibility of landlords to identify fires and maintain fire safety measures. This includes installing, checking, testing, maintaining and servicing fire sprinkler systems.

How Often Should Student Accommodation Sprinklers Get Tested?

Now you know just how important it is to get any fire sprinkler systems in students' accommodation tested, let's look at how often this needs to happen. The recommendations here are to check that there is no damage or wear to sprinklers that would impact their functionality on a weekly basis. Then, sprinklers should be properly inspected every month.

Quarterly, sprinklers should be properly maintained, including testing the full system. Lastly, on an annual basis, sprinkler systems should be properly serviced by a professional.

Why is professional fire sprinkler servicing so important?

Getting a professional to service your fire sprinkler systems is crucial for several reasons. The first is that only a fire sprinkler service specialist will have the experience and expert knowledge. Understanding that will help them effectively navigate the designs and components of your system.

Secondly, a servicing professional will be specially trained to complete such an inspection. This means they can spot issues that the untrained eye may miss, which can lead to safety problems later on. 

Remember, too, that all these checks and tests should be recorded. Indeed, thorough record keeping is essential here because it demonstrates compliance.

Type of check	Frequency	Who should do it
Fire Sprinkler Visual Checks	Weekly	Landlords, letting agents, and property managers or their team
Fire Sprinkler Inspection	Monthly	Landlords, letting agents, and property managers or their team
Fire Sprinkler Maintenance	Quarterly	Landlords, letting agents, and property managers or their team
Fire Sprinkler Professional Servicing	Annually	Fire sprinkler servicing professionals

What Happens When You Don’t Get Your Fire Sprinkler System Serviced?

Fire sprinkler compliance is not only important because it's a legal matter. Improper servicing also means genuine and dangerous safety risks to the students living in the properties. Improper servicing also means licensing issues for your property and insurance invalidation. Things that can seriously and negatively affect your property business. 

Then there are the increased costs your property business can incur from any repairs that are needed to your fire sprinkler system. Repairs that could have been spotted and dealt with earlier, before they became a massive and expensive issue. Indeed, when it comes to fire sprinklers, proper maintenance and servicing keep things in better shape over the long term. 

Last of all, if you do not have your fire sprinkler systems properly serviced by a professional, it can lead to system failure during a fire. This can lead to your system not working when you need it the most. 

How Much Does Student Accommodation Fire Sprinkler Servicing Cost?

One of the most pressing questions that landlords, letting agents, and property managers. Ask about fire sprinkler service and how much it costs. The answer is that there is no one single price for every servicing need. Instead, there are several different factors that can impact cost. 

One of the most vital of these is the size of the building that you need fire sprinklers serviced in. After all, the larger the building, the more sprinklers it will have. The way the fire sprinkler system is set up will also impact cost. The more complex systems cost a little more because they take a longer time to service. 

The good news is that you can save money by making sure that you plan for your fire sprinkler services. This is because planned servicing can help extend the lifespan of your sprinkler system. It can also help you minimise any emergency repair costs. 

The best way to get a good idea of the costs involved in fire sprinkler servicing is to contact our expert team here and discuss your specific needs. 

Seek professional support

Student accommodation in the form of PBSAs and HMOs are at a higher risk of fire. What this means is that to remain compliant, fire sprinkler systems need to be installed in such properties. Of course, in addition to installation, the fire sprinkler system must also be checked, tested, maintained, and professionally serviced. 

Indeed, professional servicing of your fire sprinkler systems is particularly vital.

This is because getting the system in your accommodation professionally serviced also means legal compliance. This reduces any safety and financial risk to your real estate business.

Additionally, professional servicing helps your system to stay functional for longer. In turn, preserving tenant safety and saving you money.