From April 2014, care home developments in Wales will be required to comply with new fire safety legislation, installing fire sprinklers to protect both residents and firefighters during the event of a blaze.

Though the Welsh Assembly has delayed some of its fire safety goals until 2016, care homes are named alongside new and converted halls of residence, boarding houses and hostels as high risk property that will have to comply two years earlier.

Minister for housing and regeneration, Carl Sargeant, explains why a gradual approach was necessary, saying: “This phasing will allow the housebuilding industry to gain experience and skills, and gives the sector the opportunity to innovate and reduce the costs of installing sprinklers. The approach will continue to set Wales apart as a leader in promoting fire safety.”

bafsa (the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association) is among those organisations to welcome the legislation, seeing Wales as ahead of the rest of the UK on fire safety issues as a result.

A spokesperson comments: “BAFSA welcomes the Minister’s statement on the implementation of the LCO and applauds the Welsh Assembly for their achievement in securing that, by 2016, Welsh residents will benefit from the highest domestic fire safety standards in the world.

“We hope that everyone will join BAFSA in congratulating the Welsh Government for taking this historic initiative and, of course, recognise the tenacity and drive exhibited by Ann Jones AM [Assembly Member for the Vale of Clwyd] in steering the measure through the whole process. While some may express disappointment and the two-stage implementation this should not overshadow the hugely significant landmark which will make Wales a world-leader in protecting its people.”