More than 100 high-rise housing blocks in Wandsworth will be fitted with sprinkler systems in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Wandsworth Council announced the news on Friday, June 23, and said “work will commence as soon as possible”.

The council will retro-fit this fire safety measure in all its tower blocks of 10 storeys and above.

The sprinkler systems will be fitted inside each flat in the 100 blocks, covering some 6,400 properties in total.

Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia said the tragic events at Grenfell House had “brought this issue into sharp focus” and said he was not prepared to run the risk of something similar happening in the borough.

He said he wanted to reassure residents that “everything that can be done is being done to protect them, their families and their homes.”

Wandsworth Borough Fire Commander Darren Munro welcomed the announcement.

He said: “This is a big commitment from Wandsworth and we will continue to work closely with the council to make sure the borough and its residents are as safe as possible.” 

Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan tweeted:


Until the sprinklers can be fitted, the council is to “step up fire safety measures” at two high rise blocks in the borough which have been fitted with the dangerous type of external cladding used at Glenfell Tower.

These are Sudbury House and Castlemaine Tower.

Wandsworth Times:

Sudbury House in Wandsworth High Street

According to the council: “Both have experienced serious fires in recent years and in both cases the fires were contained within individual flats and did not spread anywhere else, suggesting that the design of the building, the method of installing the cladding and the materials used, stood up to the fire and prevented its spread to other parts of the building.”

Sections of the cladding are currently be tested at a Government lab and until the results are back the council will deploy two fire marshals who will remain in these two blocks 24 hours a day.

They will carry out regular six hourly checks of all stairwells, corridors and other communal areas to ensure they remain free of any combustible materials and also free of any obstructions that could hinder evacuation and escape.

They will conduct regular checks of fire safety equipment such as dry-risers and make sure self-closing fire resistant doors are in full working order.

Every home will be checked for a working fire alarm and the marshals will inform all residents of the fire safety procedures for their blocks.

Carparks will be checked regularly for space for a fire engine should the need arise.

The council’s advice to residents of high-rise blocks:

• Make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your home – these will be provided at no cost

• Check your smoke alarm is working every month

• Keep balconies free from clutter

• Don’t leave rubbish or bikes in communal areas or obstruct escape routes

• Make sure you know where your nearest fire exit is 

• Do not smoke in common areas of the block

• Always fully extinguish cigarettes smoked in your home and dispose of them carefully and safely