Zero council tower blocks in Wandsworth are fitted with sprinklers, according to figures obtained by Wandsworth Guardian.

Wandsworth Council is responsible for an estimated 187 tower blocks in the borough.

In June, in the wake of the Grenfell Tower inferno that claimed at least 80 lives, the council announced it would be retro-fitting water sprinklers in 6,400 homes in 100 high rise blocks.

This will apply to tower blocks of ten storeys and above and will commence “as soon as possible” with no exact date given.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Sprinklers can suppress fires quickly, reduce property damage, potentially save lives, help with business continuity, reduce the impact of fires on the environment and protect firefighters.

“London Fire Brigade supports the installation of sprinklers in residential high rise blocks as part of its wider fire safety management strategy and for many years has also been campaigning to have them fitted in buildings which house some of the capital's most vulnerable people such as care homes, specialised accommodation and schools.”

Claire Salier, the council's executive member for housing, said: “Across the country virtually no social housing tower blocks have sprinkler systems and Wandsworth’s will be among the first in the UK to have them installed.

“Whilst our fire safety and containment systems are of the very highest standards, and are independently assessed by fire safety experts, this installation programme acts on the best advice from the Fire Brigade and will provide even greater reassurance and safety for residents in high rise blocks.

“It is now mandatory under Building Regulations for all new build blocks over 10 storeys to have sprinkler systems, these proposals bring our towers up to these standards.”

Other fire safety concerns

Two high rise blocks in the borough, Sudbury House and Castlemaine Tower, are fitted with the type of cladding used in the Grenfell Tower and does “not meet current fire safety standards”.

However, 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.”

The council intends to remove the cladding “as quickly as possible” with no exact date given, but announced they have deployed two fire marshals who are to remain in the block 24 hours a day as an additional safety measure.