16th February 2007: New figures released today by Zurich Municipal show that school fires cost the UK an estimated £74 million in 2006. As predicted by the UK's leading education insurer and risk management provider last year, this figure represents an increase (of £7 million) when compared to figures released at the end of 2005. For comparison, in the USA, with five times as many schools as the UK, fire costs are only £50 million due to the extensive use of sprinkler systems.
This comes as the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) consults on whether to make sprinklers mandatory in all new school buildings and its final decision is due shortly. A more thorough review of the case for sprinklers was identified after its Building Bulletin 100, "Designing and Managing Against the Risk of fire in Schools" document went to public consultation in 2006. Following this review the final version is due to be published in the Spring.
Zurich Municipal has been working with other partners, including the Fire Protection Association and the Fire Service, to press the Government to introduce sprinkler systems in all new schools. There is widespread support for the campaign, including a parliamentary motion backed by nearly 100 MPs
With around 75 per cent of school fires being started deliberately, arson continues to be a serious issue for schools and fire services. The majority of arsonists are aged between 10 and 19 years of age, so tackling the grass root problem of school fire involves educating school-aged children about the dangers of deliberate fire setting. Related costs incurred as a result of school fires have increased by £25 million over the last 11 years.
The financial costs are only part of the problem. The Arson Prevention Bureau (APB) estimates that almost a third of school fires occur during the day, putting the safety of pupils and staff at risk. Furthermore, fires interrupt learning and over 90,000 pupils a year will experience disruption to their education as a result of damage to classrooms or school property. This can range from an individual classroom being out of action for a matter of weeks to whole schools being taught in temporary accommodation for two to three years.
Larry Stokes, Underwriting Manager at Zurich Municipal and Chair of the Arson Prevention Bureau's Schools Working Group, comments: "Only fires that are allowed to grow cause the catastrophic damage that we see resulting from some school fires. Sprinklers are 99 per cent effective in limiting damages and in our experience, losses in buildings fitted with sprinklers are up to 90 per cent less than those in schools where no system was fitted."
However, despite these facts only around 300 of the UK's 30,000 schools are fitted with sprinkler systems. Zurich Municipal has been working closely with local authorities to campaign that sprinklers are fitted in every newly built or refurbished school.
There are various myths associated with sprinklers that result in a reluctance to fit them in new buildings and refurbishments. The biggest objection is the initial cost. In actual fact this can be less than two per cent of the school building cost and that initial investment will save schools money in the event of a fire. But even in the ideal scenario where no fire occurs, sprinklers can save schools money through lower insurance premiums and by offsetting other building costs.
Larry continues: "We are delighted that the Government is considering taking this vital step towards making sprinklers mandatory in schools. We have been working hard to achieve this for the last 10 years. The fact is that there has never been a death from fire in a building fitted with sprinklers."
A regional percentage breakdown for the cost of school fires in 2006 is as follows:
London/South East/E A 15%
Midlands 39%
North/NE 5%
Scotland 15%
Wales/South West 20%
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
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
A comparison with previous year's figures is as follows:
|
|
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
|
London, SE & East Anglia (combined) |
15% |
41% |
13% |
|
Midlands |
39% |
17% |
57% |
|
North and North East (combined) |
5% |
15% |
9% |
|
North West |
6% |
12% |
12% |
|
Scotland |
15% |
9% |
4% |
|
Wales & South West |
20% |
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; http://www.zurich.co.uk/Municipal/ToolsAndTips/SchoolArsonInitiative.htm
Notes to Editors:
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 55,000 people serving customers in more than 120 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. We are also committed to mounting initiatives to support the best educational beginnings possible.
