National children’s hospital told install water sprinklers

The new national children’s hospital will have to install a water sprinkler system despite efforts by its development board to have this fire safety measure excluded.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has been told by An Bord Pleanála to install sprinklers throughout the building, which ranges between four and seven storeys, as they would “limit the size of a fire”, control its spread, provide additional time to escape, limit fire damage, “be beneficial in terms of operational continuity”, and ultimately ensure that the hospital “achieves an adequate level of fire safety” to comply with fire safety and building regulations.

An Bord Pleanála said its decision, in line with the requirements of Dublin City Council, was informed by the nature, height, scale, form, and layout of the proposed hospital.