Sprinkler system would have prevented Chinese student's death: Australian coroner

An inquest into the death of a much-loved, talented Chinese student who died after jumping from a burning Sydney apartment has found a sprinkler system would have likely prevented her death.

Handing down his findings on Friday, NSW Deputy State Coroner Hugh Dillon said if the apartment block were 10 centimeters higher, Australian building codes would have required fire suppression systems to be installed.

Connie Zhang, 21, would likely still be alive if the developer was not "cost-conscious" and reluctant to comply with Australian safety standards, the coroner said.

Zhang was trapped on the fifth-floor bedroom of her Bankstown apartment after a fire broke out on the balcony in September 2012.

The 21-year-old was fatally wounded when she jumped to escape.

The inquest into Zhang's death has previously heard there were serious safety defects with the building.

An extra bedroom was added to the apartment without authorization by what the owner had described as an investment to boost rental income. Endi