Local fire fighters believe that sprinklers in the Dunelm premises would have prevented fire spread to two neighbouring properties which were severely damaged and that Dunelm could have been operating again the next morning. As it was, eighty fire fighters took four hours to control the blaze.

Currently less than 1% of commercial premises in England and Wales are covered by Government regulations making the installation of sprinklers mandatory. Some businesses voluntarily install sprinklers in new builds but many are put off by the initial cost and ill founded concerns over activation when there is no fire and excess water causing widespread damage in a minor fire.

It is difficult and disruptive to retrofit sprinkler systems into occupied buildings so it is far better to have them installed when the building is being built. Individual insurers find that insisting upon sprinklers can put them at a disadvantage in a very competitive market, while regulation is concerned for safety of life rather than property. Perhaps this is the time for the ABI to take the lead?