Thurston Extra Care Facility is a residential care home located in Suffolk, providing long-term care for elderly residents, including those with physical & mental disabilities. The facility houses roughly 120 residents in the building which is interconnected by 3 wings. The facility has both individual apartments and shared living spaces. The decision was made to install an automatic sprinkler system as part of a broader initiative to improve safety and meet changing fire safety regulations for care homes.

Site Assessment and Planning

Before the installation, a thorough site assessment was carried out by our expert team, which included:

• Facility Layout: A detailed survey of the three wings was conducted to determine optimal sprinkler head placement. The layout included both private apartments and common areas, such as dining rooms and lounges.
• Fire Hazard Analysis: Rooms with increased fire risks (e.g., kitchens, communal areas) were identified as high-priority zones. Care was also taken to design the system to accommodate areas with more complex evacuation requirements due to residents’ mobility challenges.
• Water Supply Consideration: It was identified that a booster pump would be necessary to maintain sufficient water pressure. We utilised the domestic cold water booster pump that in the event of a fire would switch to fully supply the fire sprinkler system.