The scope of the DD 251 covers residential and domestic occupancies. For residential occupancies these include: apartments, residential homes, houses of multiple occupancy, blocks of flats, boarding houses, older people's homes, nursing homes, residential rehabilitation accommodation and dormitories.For domestic occupancies these include: individual dwelling houses, individual flats, maisonettes and transportable homes.

The Draft for Development DD 252, residential and domestic sprinkler specification, should also be referred to. Copies of the Drafts for Development DD 251 and 252 can be obtained from: British Standards Institute, 389 Chiswick High Road, London,
W4 4AL or Tel: 020 8996 9000

Experience of sprinklers
The vast majority of fire deaths and injuries happen in the home. About 15 years ago the United States started to use specially designed domestic sprinkler systems to save lives in dwellings. The results have been encouraging.

Although sprinklers are not commonplace in US dwellings, the US Government is supporting a nationwide campaign - Operation Life Safety - to encourage their installation. In one town in Arizona, all new homes have been required to be fitted with sprinklers for the last 13 years. Sprinklers now protect 40% of the dwellings in Scottsdale.

Recently Scottsdale published a 10-year report, which showed:
• No fire deaths
• 80% reduction of fire injuries
• 80% reduction in property damage
• 95% reduction in water usage for fire control

It would be misleading to mention the American experience, however, without noting that many US homes are far more remote than most in the UK. In the US, firefighters may not arrive for some time in the event of a fire, so sprinklers are all the more important.