Derby Tall Building Kitchen Fire Sprinkler Activation

• Date of incident; 18 March 2024
• Tine of call; 13:54
• Location; Derby
• Use of building; Purpose built Flat 10 or more stories.
• Location of fire; Kitchen/lounge
• Automatic Fire Suppression System; Sprinklers
• Fire Rescue Service; Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS)

DFRS have reported the above-mentioned incident involving a new purpose built residential tall building consisting of two residential blocks of 11 and 9 floors containing 259 studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments.

The Incident

• DFRS mobilised 6 fire pumping appliances, 1 aerial platform to reports of a fire.
• On arrival the OIC established a fire within a dwelling involving the activation of the residential fire sprinkler system.
• Upon entry Breathing Apparatus Crews established that a kitchen fire involving an electric induction hob had been contained, controlled, and extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head.
• The location of the sprinkler head was 1m from the seat of the fire.
• Minor fire damage was sustained to the extraction canopy cooker hood.

Sprinkler System Specification

• BS9251:2014
• Category 2 System
• Water Supply: Cold water booster supply
• Duration: 60mins enhanced.
• Pipework: CPVC Blazemaster

It should be remembered. 

• The fire was extinguished, controlled within the compartment of origin by the Sprinkler system.
• Passive fire safety measures.
• (Providing effective fire protection requires both passive and active elements working in unison and complementing the roles of one another)
• Minimal fire damage was reported within the compartment of origin.
• No further firefighting media was required.
• No injuries reported.

Emergency Plan

It was reported following the incident that flats were affected by water, it should be remembered that a robust emergency plan will allow the provision of vital information for the Fire Rescue Service to be shared by onsite representatives. Clarifying the location and provision of key elements of the active fire safety systems where present such as sprinklers and other forms of AFSS. The outcome of which will allow a robust onsite emergency response to be immediately actioned to assist the control of the sprinkler system during the fire incident and following a fire so that they can be reinstated.

Links/sources

• Sprinkler Saves Review 2022/2023
• Sprinkler Saves Spring Update No 4
• Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Derbyshire Live

If you want to make a difference working in the fire sector, we need your assistance……

To make sprinklers the norm and not the exception – we need the evidence. Encouraging the FRS to promote, collate, report sprinkler activations to Sprinkler Saves UK will help to create a central and comprehensive record of fire incidents where sprinklers played their role in containing/controlling or extinguishing the fire.

If you hear of a save report it using this link