Fire sprinkler for new hotel block

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33068, 8 November 1972, Page 18

Fire sprinkler for new hotel block

A fire-sprinkler system will be installed in the 10-storey tower block, containing a 100-room hotel, being built on the site of the former Federal and Market hotels in Victoria Square.

Mr M. C. Holdsworth, announcing this yesterday on behalf of the owners of the new building, Christchurch Properties, Ltd, said that the three office floors above the Ramada Inn and the shop area on the ground floor would also have the sprinkler system.

"In addition, spiral drenching heads are also being installed to provide protection from fires in adjacent buildings,” Mr Holdsworth said. He said that a sprinkler system for the new building was not mandatory under the city _ by-laws or under the national fire ordinances. But after considering all the information made available by consultants, the owners had decided that sprinklers provided the maximum level of safety.

The decision had been fully supported by Gemini Investments, Ltd, of Palmerston North, the lessee of the hotel. The total extra cost for the system was $36,144, and the relatively nominal fire insurance saving was $7OO a year.

Mr Holdsworth, referred to a letter in “The Press” last Monday which said that the hotel and building were owned by overseas interests. “Nothing could be further from the truth. All the finance has been arranged within New Zealand, the owner is a Christchurch company, and the hotel lessee company’s head office is in Palmerston North.”