Sprinkler systems

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 18

Sprinkler systems

Sir, —At the risk of being told I am meddling in other people’s business, I would like to answer Mr E. Beckett, of the Mount Cook Group (July 5). Fire sprinkler pumps are made and maintained to the stringent requirements of the fire underwriters. I have built'ffriany of them; some

have been installed on mountain tops in television translators. I am sure the underwriters would advise on a suitable system in this situation. The usual water supply is a tank of 10,000 gallons, 1600 cubic feet. Would Mr Beckett state the quoted cost of sprinklers at the time the building was being considered and compare it with the cost of replacing the fire damage? Also, how much less the insurance would have cost with sprinklers?—Yours, etc., J. CAVERHILL. July 6, 1986.

[Mr E. G. Beckett, public affairs manager, Mount Cook Group, Ltd, replies: "We have already acknowledged the value of sprinklers and, while it is not our intention to enter into an exchange of views or to reveal costs, we would point out that anything can be achieved at a price, and the simple fact is that without an immediate and ample source of water at Coronet Peak the cost of ah efficient sprinkler system would have been disproportionate.’’]