Citation

Fire prevention and fire engineers journals 2005; 65(254): 35-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Fire Protection Association : Institution of Fire Engineers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A report analyzing the cause of fire at Yarl's Wood detection centre and outlining the reasons for Home Office departments decision of ignoring the sprinkler option is presented. One of the reason was the concern about the possibility of sprinkler heads being vandalized, leading to false activations, or used as ligature points by suicidal detainees. There was little history of fire in the prison and custodial estate, and those with experience of designing and running such facilities regarded the fire risk as low. Insufficient attention was paid to Yarl's Wood's relatively remote location; the design and construction of the building, which was not fit for purpose; the poor water supplies; and the nature of the occupants it would hold.