The new hospital is being built to replace those in Falkirk and Stirling

The council urged the health authority to take note of the Fire Brigade Union's campaign calling for sprinklers in the new Larbert hospital.

NHS Forth Valley has argued there are "more appropriate" measures to combat the potential outbreak of fire.

Work on the new "super hospital" near Falkirk is due for completion next year.

Falkirk Council's Labour leader Linda Gow successfully put forward an amendment to an SNP motion at a meeting on Wednesday evening in support of the FBU.

The amendment said: "Council recognises the important role sprinklers play in the fight against fire and in the saving of lives.

"Council believes that fire safety within the new hospital at Larbert for patients, staff and visitors is of vital importance.

"Council therefore calls upon NHS Forth Valley, health and safety advisers including Central Fire & Rescue Service to heed the campaign by the Fire Brigade Union and council calls for the installation of sprinklers within the areas of the hospital where appropriate."

'Public safety'

The new building is among Scotland's biggest public private partnership (PPP) hospital contracts.

Current legislation dictates that a sprinkler system must be fitted in all care homes and sheltered housing.

However, the law is yet to be extended to cover their installation in all new build schools and hospitals.

Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson, who introduced the Fire Sprinklers in Residential Premises (Scotland) Bill in 2004 following the Rosepark Care Home tragedy, said it was time for the health authority to rethink their plans.

I will be continuing to press the board on this issue as this is an import issue of public safety Michael Matheson MSP

He said: "I welcome the support of Falkirk Council on this.

"There is now growing pressure on the health board to reverse their decision not to install sprinklers.

"I will be continuing to press the board on this issue as this is an import issue of public safety."

To date NHS Forth Valley has opted for fire resistant walls and doors to be fitted to "compartmentalise" any fire.

The FBU have accused the health authority of doing the "bare minimum" when it comes to fire safety.

When the controversy first arose in October, Ian Mullen, chairman of NHS Forth Valley, said they were acting on advice which suggested other methods were more effective for tackling fires in hospitals.