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Two London Fires, Two Different Outcomes, Deptford Sprinkler Save

16 March 2022 @ 11:46 am - 1:14 pm

  1. Two London Fires, Two Different Outcomes
  2. Deptford, Electrical Consumer Unit High Rise Fire
  3. Activation of the Residential Sprinkler System
  • Fire Rescue Service; London Fire Brigade (LFB)
  • LFB Resources; Five pumping appliances
  • Date of incident; 16 March 2022
  • Location; Deptford
  • Purpose group: Purpose built flat, 10 or more storeys
  • Use of property; Residential flat
  • Time of call; 11:46
  • Time of stop; 13:14
  • Incident; Fire,
  • Location of Incident; Hallway, storage cupboard
  • Automatic Fire Suppression System (AFSS); Residential sprinkler system

 

LFB have reported the above-mentioned incident involving an electrical consumer unit that clearly identifies the benefits of installing a residential premises in a high-rise residential block., as the premises is over 30m in height, sprinklers were required to be installed to comply with ¹building regulations

The Incident

  • On arrival operational crews identified a fire within a five-roomed flat storage cupboard con the fifth floor of a 12-storey block of flats
  • One sprinkler head actuated located within the storage cupboard

Outcome

  • Fire, controlled/contained prior to the arrival of operational crews by the actuation of one sprinkler head
  • The electricity supply was isolated, crews checked for further fire spread behind the stud partition wall.
  • No injuries reported
  • Incident closed in less than 90mins

Cause of the fire

  • Accidental caused by resistive heating in an electrical consumer unit

When you turn the clock back to the 7 May 2021, LFB attended a similar fire at NEW PROVIDENCE WHARF a fire WITHOUT FIRE SPRINKLERS involving an electrical consumer unit.

 The outcome however was far different

  • Location; Tower Hamlets
  • Purpose group: Purpose built flat, 10 or more storeys, circa 2005
  • Use of property; Residential flat
  • Time of call; 08:54
  • Incident; Fire
  • Location of Incident.
  1. Flat on the Eighth floor.
  2. storage cupboard which contained the electrical consumer unit
  • Cause of fire; electrical fault potentially relating to a timer switch within the consumer unit 

Summary

  • Fire spread to the exterior of the building affecting balconies directly above on the 9th, 10th and 11th floor
  • ACM cladding on 8th and 9th floors involved
  • Flat of origin 80% damaged by fire
  • 67 residents’ self-evacuated prior to arrival of the FRS
  • Incident escalated toa 20 pump fire
  • Major incident declared mass evacuation of the block implemented
  • Fire fighters committed wearing Breathing Apparatus
  • Firefighting resources; 6 jets, one aerial monitor, Drone team
  • 22 smoke hoods used to rescue residents
  • LFB rescues 34 residents

Sprinkler System

  • The most obvious solution would have been the installation of a sprinkler system
  • As the fire started within the flat and spread to the exterior of the building spreading vertically effecting balconies above.
  • The fire would have been contained/controlled or even extinguished before the arrival of firefighters
  • Delaying or preventing the fire to exit the building

Links

 

 

Source, article

  • LFB Press release, information supplied by LFB

¹The installation of fire sprinklers has been a requirement on new residential buildings above 30 metres in height since 2007. This trigger height has now been reduced to 11 meters taking effect on 26 November 2020

Details

Date:
16 March 2022
Time:
11:46 am - 1:14 pm

Other

Location (Town/City)
London
Type of Sprinkler Installation
Wet Pipe