Calls for more stringent fire prevention controls in public places were made yesterday after the devastating blaze at the National Motorcycle Museum.
 The appeals were made as Roy Richards, the owner and founder of the complex in Bickenhill, Solihull, said the cost of restoring it could be as high as £25 million. Caroline Spelman, Conservative MP for Meriden, whose constituency includes the museum, and West Midlands Fire Service said the case highlighted the need for sprinkler systems to be installed in public buildings. More than two-thirds of the 900 machines at the museum, the home of Britain's motorcycle heritage, were destroyed in Tuesday's fire. The building did not have a sprinkler system. As firefighters sifted through the wreckage of blaze - which was caused by a discarded cigarette - a chief fire officer described it as an "advert" for businesses which are weighing up the costs of fitting a sprinkler system. The museum was complied with fire regulations which ensure that visitors and workers are able to escape in the event of a blaze. However, Ms Spelman said she was concerned the regulations did not focus on preventing blazes and restricting the spread of fires. "I think everyone can learn a lesson from this and you have to look at the two evils of having sprinkler systems going off in a museum or a fire destroying the whole site," she said. "You either run the risk of having your artefacts sprayed with water or you risk losing them altogether, which is obviously worse." Roger Bibbings, occupational safety adviser at Birmingham-based RoSPA, the accident awareness group, said other museums would have to take into account the blaze at the Bicken-hill site when they decide whether to fit sprinkler systems. He said: "Museums which have sensitive exhibits are worried that the sprinkler systems could go off and ruin them. But they will now be weighing up the balance. "There will be lots of museum owners who would be thinking that the risk of their exhibits being destroyed is more than they could put up with." West Midlands Fire Service Assistant Divisional Officer Dave Glenis said the building complied with fire regulations. He added: "These regulations are about the means of escape and making sure that workers and visitors can get out. What they do not do is protect the building. "We will be recommending that the owner fits a sprinkler system, but he has to weigh up the costs. "This is a good advert for having sprinklers, but there are some companies that have a policy which says 'we are willing to write off the stock to save fitting sprinklers'. "We point out the advantages and they take that economic decision." Mr Glenis said investigators were confident the fire had started in boxes containing discarded air conditioning filters. "These were outside the building, to the side, and it is also an area where staff can go to smoke. We think somebody put out a cigarette which was not completely extinguished, and which may have blown on to these boxes." Mr Richards said he was confident the building's insurers, the Royal and Sun Alliance, would be able to pay for the costs of transforming the site. He said: "I expect the loss will be about £25 million, but we will be able to get the cash from the insurers." A spokesman for the museum said all conferences arranged at the centre have been cancelled. He added: "If this place is closed for 12 months it is going to hurt a lot of local businesses." A spokesman for the Birmingham and Solihull Chamber of Commerce said: "It is a marvellous destination so it is a major loss for the business community of Birmingham and Solihull.". | 
