North Lanarkshire high-rises to be fitted with sprinklers

North Lanarkshire Council has announced plans to install automatic sprinkler systems into its 48 high-rise tower blocks.

Scotland’s largest local authority landlord carried out structural reviews of all their tower blocks and will look to fit the infrastructure into its existing towers.

The council’s Enterprise and Housing Resources Committee will consider a report next week proposing the scheme.

At present there is no legal requirement for sprinkler systems to be fitted in the 4,000 high-rise homes the authority manages.

Des Murray, Assistant Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Minimising risk is our 48 tower blocks is our absolute priority.

“We began our examination of towers in 2016 and have concluded that – while our fire safety arrangements are robust – the installation of sprinklers will further enhance safety and provide additional reassurance."

Most towers in North Lanarkshire were constructed between 1965 and 1973.

The estimated cost for the project is £10m.

The council agreed in December to consult residents on plans which could see all towers demolished over the next 20 years - a decision made as part of the council’s wider ambitions to improve the region’s housing.

Des Murray continued: “These are part of ambitious plans to provide better homes for people, regenerate town centres and create jobs and are separate to our plans to increase fire safety in the short term.

“Given that some towers will remain over the next two decades it’s important that we consider the fire safety implications during that period.”

The council is working with Scottish Fire and Rescue, the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association and Scottish Water to identify the most appropriate system for the towers.

A decision on the proposals will be made by councillors at a meeting of the Enterprise and Housing Committee on Thursday 15 February.