Plumbing courses could soon be in demand across the country after a scheme was introduced in Wales that could have implications for the rest of the UK.

Newly-built properties including houses, flats and care homes in Wales will now be required to have sprinkler systems fitted in case of fire, Plumbing Park reports.

If the initiative proves to be cost-effective as well as resulting in lives being saved, it is thought it could be rolled out all over Britain.

Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering spokesperson Blane Judd said it would be necessary to train up new plumbers to work with sprinkler systems, but added that he thinks it would be worth it.

"Even though it's not a legal requirement in England or Scotland, there's no reason why plumbers can't offer sprinklers for new and older properties for additional safety," he went on to say.

According to the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, sprinkler heads are connected by a grid of pipes and operate only when they sense high temperatures caused by fire or hot gases.

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