Executive orders care homes to install sprinklers after fire tragedy

New regulations for fire prevention in residential care homes
have been announced by the Scottish executive following the death
in January of 14 older people in a fire in Rosepark residential
care home in Lanarkshire, writes Maggie
Wood.

Mary Mulligan, deputy communities minister, announced new
proposals for sprinkler systems to be installed in new and
converted care home buildings from May next year.
 
The minister added that new national guidance for existing
buildings including those with multiple occupancy will be
introduced to take account of the lessons learned from the Rosepark
tragedy.

Michael Matheson, shadow deputy justice minister, who introduced
a sprinkler bill to parliament nearly three years ago, said it was
regrettable that up to now three separate executive ministers had
refused to consider introducing sprinkler systems in care
homes. 

He said: “Clearly the tragic deaths at Rosepark
illustrated the vulnerability of care home residents, and this
obviously focused minds, including the
ministers’.”
 
He has agreed to suspend the bill until the executive’s
proposals are introduced.