Money well spent?

[lyledunn]

Parishioners of a local church were asked to dig a little deeper to raise funds for "much needed" fire safety improvements. Appears the decision to implement these so-called improvements was made at top level following consultation with some fire safety outfit and applies to all churches in Ireland of the same denomination.
So we have our little country church, 3 rooms comprising the main body of the church, a vestry and a bog. A new addressable L1 or 2 system has been installed. No connection with a monitoring station by the way. Emergency lighting throughout.
I must say that now that the evenings are drawing in, there is a fascinating display of red and green lights, very chic for a 300 year old church but whether it was worth the money?

[kurnal]

A triumph of salesmanship over need. The contractor or fire safety advisor  should be named and shamed IMHO. Money might have been better spent on a security system to protect the lead on the roof.

[David Rooney]

Holy Cow .................... 

[kurnal]

Or should that be holy cash cow?

[Fishy]

I wonder whether the "...fire safety outfit..." sell fire alarm & emergency lighting installation services, by any chance?

[wee brian]

And the decision was made at the top level. you'd think the almighty would be more on the ball!

[Owain]

I must say that now that the evenings are drawing in, there is a fascinating display of red and green lights,

Depending on denomination, shouldn't they be all green or all orange lights?

Or would that be an ecumenical question?

[Dinnertime Dave]

They will be coming along next week to re-hang the door to outward opening and create a new door in the vestry. No candles and reduce capacity due to alcohol.

[John Webb]

I have had, on occasion, to point out to churches who've sought my advice that common-sense should prevail! The "Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches" (DAC for short!) in each diocese has to give an individual church permission for significant works, so in the end (in my diocese at least) it's possible to curb 'over the top' proposals - the saving in cost is usually appreciated.

[JT]

Has a company/church etc ever sued these types of firms post works if found to be blatantly over the top?

[AnthonyB]

Someone has made a nice little earner out of that, completely OTT for life safety and useless for property protection!

[Fire Monkey]

Having recently done FRA's at churches I am surprised by these recommendations - no sleeping risks, occupants familiar with their surroundings. I would have gone for sprinklers and hourly fire watch patrols  with a CL-215T amphibious firefighting aircraft on hot stand by.