New figures released by leading schools insurer Zurich Municipal show that the cost of school fires was an estimated £65 million in 2008.
This marks an increase of approximately £12 million on 2007, where the continuous rainfall in the summer that impacted much of the UK is considered to have been one factor in the reduced incidence of school fires.
While the latest statistics indicate a slight decline on higher losses in preceding years the 2008 figure is closer to the 2006 loss of £67 million, Zurich is still warning that individual school fires are getting bigger and more costly.
In late 2007 Schools Minister Jim Knight announced that all new and refurbished schools would be expected to have sprinkler systems installed. However with 75 per cent of fire claims dealt with by Zurich Municipal being arson-related the organisation is maintaining pressure on government to ensure the fitting of sprinklers in new schools, including those built under the academies programme.
Larry Stokes, Underwriting Manager at Zurich Municipal said: “School fires continue to pose a significant threat, including to the newer academies which are often built on the site of a school with previous experience of arson and other property related damage.
Government guidance stating schools built under the Building Schools for the Future programme are expected to install sprinkler systems was a massive step forward. But with progress on many of these dwindling or stalling altogether there is a very real risk that we could start seeing the losses creep up to the higher levels of previous years. This would represent a missed opportunity to radically improve the fire resilience of schools that BSF represents.”
Liberal Democrat Schools spokesman, David Laws recently drew attention to the, “shocking frequency of fires in our schools.”
Citing Zurich’s own data stating that fire losses affect approximately 20 schools per week, Mr Laws highlighted the need for effective school security commenting, "Schools need to have proper security and fire safety measures like alarms and sprinklers to stop all this cash going up in smoke.”.
Mr Stokes concluded: “We continue to advocate a mandatory sprinklers policy to best mitigate fire risk. Until such a time non-sprinklered schools must remain vigilant around fire risk. Recording any incident – no matter how small can help mitigate future, more significant incidents.”
Zurich will offer discounts of up to 70 per cent off the fire element of the premium for schools fitted to its (British Standard) specification.
Less than 500 of 32,000 schools are currently fitted with a sprinkler system.
Zurich will offer discounts of up to 65 per cent off the fire element of the premium for schools fitted to BSEN 12845 , with Technical Bulletin TB221 specification for schools .
A regional percentage breakdown for the cost of school fires in 2008 is as follows:
| Region |
% |
| London & South East |
34% |
| East Anglia |
28% |
| Wales & South West |
15% |
| Midlands |
1% |
| North East |
11% |
| North West |
6% |
| North (incl. Yorkshire) |
2% |
| Scotland |
3% |
For further information please contact:
Louise Naqvi, Zurich Financial Services: t: 01489 561574 m:07875 885120 email: louise.naqvi@uk.zurich.com
Notes to Editors:
NATIONAL COST OF FIRE IN SCHOOLS:
| Year |
Amount (£) |
| 1995 |
£49,000,000 |
| 1996 |
£55,000,000 |
| 1997 |
£51,000,000 |
| 1998 |
£45,000,000 |
| 1999 |
£42,000,000 |
| 2000 |
£65,000,000 |
| 2001 |
£93,000,000 |
| 2002 |
£96,600,000 |
| 2003 |
£73,400,000 |
| 2004 |
£83,000,000 |
| 2005 |
£67,000,000 |
| 2006 |
£74,000,000 |
| 2007 |
£53,000,000 |
| 2008 |
£65,000,000 |
A comparison with previous year’s figures is as follows:
| Region |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
| London, SE & East Anglia |
21% |
15% |
41% |
13% |
| Midlands |
51% |
39% |
17% |
57% |
| North |
15% |
2% |
12% |
9% |
| North East |
3% |
3% |
3% |
|
| North West |
5% |
6% |
12% |
12% |
| Scotland |
5% |
15% |
9% |
4% |
| Wales & South West |
|
20% |
6% |
5% |
Zurich Municipal’s award-winning Arson Combated Together (ACT) Tool Kit is available electronically on its website. The ACT initiative was winner of the CSR category at the British Insurance Awards of 2006. More information is available on the website;
http://www.zurich.co.uk/Municipal/ToolsAndTips/SchoolArsonInitiative.htm
Zurich Financial Services is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries.
Zurich Municipal provides insurance to many schools in the UK. We assist them with identifying and managing the insurable risks attached to their activities by informing them on risk assessment and risk management.
