13 Years After Installation, Welsh Sprinkler System Extinguishes Residential High-Rise Fire.

On a regular basis, I am still challenged at resident meetings in my role as a Sprinkler Ambassador representing The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association promoting the benefits of sprinklers. “We have never had a fire in the block, it’s a waste of money”

It should be remembered fire is indiscriminate, it can happen at any time. This reported sprinkler activation puts this myth to bed, this was the first reported fire within this building following the retrofitting of the sprinkler system over 13 years ago.

Summary

Firstly, our gratitude for the support of Bron Afon Community Housing Association reporting this positive news story reaffirming the importance of reporting sprinkler activations to Sprinkler Saves Uk allowing trends, anomalies to be identified in the emerging UK sprinkler firefighting industry allowing the continued review of technical standards ensuring best practice within the sprinkler, fire industry.

In this case the benefits of

• Installing a residential sprinkler system within a residential tall building
• Providing a further layer of safety from fire as part of a package of fire safety measures protecting our community members.
• Debunking the myth,residential sprinklers as an extinguishing media should not be used on chip pan fires

Bron Afon Community Housing Association should be applauded, for their vision leading the way in fire safety, who took the decision to retrofit sprinklers in 2011 in one of their high-rise residential blocks following lessons learnt from fires in high rise residential blocks working closely with SWFRS. The first of its kind in Wales setting an example to others at the time.

13 years after staying dormant the sprinkler system within the 12-storey residential block of flats activated. It is reported the premises sprinkler system successfully extinguished a kitchen fire involving a chip pan left unattended with no injuries reported. Providing valuable time for the residents to self-evacuate from their flat to a place of safety before the arrival of SWFRS.

It is proven that the installation of fire sprinklers as part of a package of fire safety measures, saves lives, prevents injury minimizing property damage. It’s the equivalent of having a firefighter in your premises 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Catherine Love Bron Afon Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive said, “Sprinkler systems are the most effective way of fighting fire and preventing loss of life. We are proud that this work is setting an example as the most challenging of its kind in the Uk.”

Promoting further evidence to the reliability and effectiveness of sprinkler systems following the two recent reports conducted Optimal Economics, and commissioned by the National Fire Chiefs Council, National Fire Sprinkler Network into the performance, reliability, and effectiveness of sprinkler systems in controlling and extinguishing fires.

The reports found that:

• Sprinklers are 99% efficient in extinguishing or controlling a fire.
• Sprinklers are 94% efficient in their ability to operate.

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.

 Further details on the background to the installation can be found in the case study report completed by ²Vipond providing an overview of the installation which can be found in the links section.

The Sprinkler System

There is no doubt the cost of installing sprinklers is far outweighed by the potential of saving life, reducing injuries disruption and financial implications of a fire as demonstrated following this fire.

¹The cost of the sprinkler installation at the time Circa £80K which equated to £1150 per flat, cost to supplement the water supply approximately £10K,

• BS9251;2005
• Category residential
• 30-minute supply, designated tank
• Coverage flats/common ways
• Dual electric pumps
• Fire service infill

The Incident

• Fire crews were mobilised to reports of a fire following an emergency call received from the remote alarm receiving centre confirming the activation of the building sprinkler system.
• Following the completion of a dynamic risk assessment, key tasks by the officer in charge on arrival, it was established that the fire was located within a flat on the first floor.
• The sprinkler system allowed extra time for the OIC to implement a robust operational tactical plan for the incident.
• Upon entry to the flat operational crews established that a fire within a kitchen involving a chip pan had been contained, controlled and extinguished by the activation of one sidewall sprinkler head.
• Two residents self-evacuated their flat prior to the arrival of the SWRS with no injuries reported,  further medical attention was not required.
• No fire damage was reported with minimal smoke damage within the compartment of origin.

Emergency Plan

• Information was available onsite for SWFRS to clarify the location and provision of key elements of the active fire safety systems.
• Allowing a robust onsite emergency response to be actioned to assist with the control of the sprinkler system at the conclusion of the fire incident including consideration to the reinstatement of the system

Reinstatement of the Fire Protection Measures

• It is paramount that fire protection measures in buildings can function effectively in the event of a fire. To achieve this the premises emergency plan should include that arrangements are in place allowing the immediate reinstatement of the sprinkler system which should be included in your emergency plan.
• It is a requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order for the responsible person to implement the appropriate arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring of the preventive and protective measures.
• Any delay could compromise the safety of the occupants in the event of a further fire within the building due to the sprinkler system being offline.
• Following receipt of an alarm activation by the remote alarm receiving centre, the designated key holder informed the on-call sprinkler engineer.
• The engineer was on site at 21:30 reinstating the system at 22:03.

 Benefits of a residential sprinkler system

 It should be remembered that a correctly designed and installed sprinkler system

1. Is an effective fire safety measures as part of a package of fire safety measures
2. Reduces the heat output from fire by reducing its growth, containing, controlling or in some cases extinguishing the fire
3. Initiates the appropriate emergency procedures by sounding a sprinklered local alarm
4. Allows more time for the occupants to escape to safety or be rescued, protects firefighters

This incident once again, debunks the myth, residential sprinklers as an extinguishing media should not be used on chip pan fires

In England cooking fires are the most common type of accidental fire reported for the period 2013/2014 to 2022/2023 with over 1100 fires. We still see reports from the Fire Rescue Service (FRS) that where the occupant is present at the time of a chip pan fire, they have tried to extinguish the fire themselves by placing the oil pan under the tap in the kitchen sink or throw water on the pan causing the oil to explode causing serious injury allowing further fire to spread.

Sprinkler Saves UK have reported multiple incidents involving chip pan fires on each occasion the fire was extinguished, contained, or controlled.

1. Lincoln, 7 August 2021
2. Tonypandy, Rhondda, 29 December 2021
3. Flint 3 June 2021
4. South Yorkshire 26 August 2022
5. London 21 August 2023
6. Newport July 2024
7. Stockport 26 July 2024

BAFSA have released a comprehensive video that demonstrates the clear benefits of sprinklers involving chip pan fires, click here to open.  Fire statistical data collated from incidents attended by fire and rescue service involving dwellings for the financial year 2019/20 confirmed that 1494 incidents took place involving chip pan fires

Links/sources

• Sprinkler Saves Review 2023/2024
• Sprinkler Saves Spring Update No 5
• ¹High Rise Retrofit Pilot Callow Mount BAFSA Steve Seaber Presentation
• ²Vipond retrofittinCS10_Fairview case study
• IFSEC Insider, Bron Afon leads the way in fire safety October 25, 2011
• Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom:An Analysis from Fire Service Data in support of this publication a supplementary publication Incidence of deaths and injuries in sprinklered buildings was published 

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 FRS and those in the sprinkler community to promote, collate, report sprinkler activations to Sprinkler Saves UK which 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.