Tower Hamlets Bedroom Sprinkler Activation

• Date of incident; 4 January 2024.
• Location; Tower Hamlets.
• Use of building; Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes – 4 to 9 storeys.
• Location of fire; Flat.
• Automatic Fire Suppression System; Sprinklers.
• Fire Rescue Service; London Fire Brigade. (LFB)

LFB have reported the following sprinkler activation within a new purpose-built development consisting of 53 new homes providing one, two- and three-bedroom flats across three separate blocks. Operational crews established that one fire sprinkler head actuated containing, controlling a bedroom fire within a flat.

Analysis of compound primary fire data

Interrogating fire primary data 2018/19 to 2020/2021 where sprinklers systems were reported as present and having an impact inside the flats, 56 activations were reported.

1. 40 activations within the kitchen
2. 9 activations within the living room
3. 7 activations within the bedroom/bedsitting room

Of the 7 reported sprinkler activations for bedroom/bedsitting room fires on each occasion the fire was either extinguished, contained/controlled.

It should be remembered the installation of a life safety Automatic Fire Suppression System is to reduce the rate of heat and smoke, allowing more time for the occupants to escape to safety or be rescued, The provision of a sprinkler system does not neglect the need for other fire practical precautions or provisions where the person is at higher-than-average risk from fire, unable to self-evacuate in the event of a fire.

Links/sources

• Sprinkler Saves Review 2022/2023
• Sprinkler Saves Autumn Update No 3
• Incident Data Report Focus on Sprinklers

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.