Bristol Residential Block of Flats E-Bicycle Sprinkler Save

Summary

A sprinkler save is categorised as where one or more sprinkler heads have activated and contained, controlled or in some cases, extinguished a building fire. Each of these real-life individual tangible stories provides powerful evidence of the ability of sprinklers as part of an appropriate package of fire safety measures.

• Reducing the impact of fire on people, property and the environment, reducing the risks to firefighters.
• Addressing the myths, misconceptions regarding their safety and efficiency, providing evidence of the ability of sprinklers to protect our communities from fire.
• Preventing a potential major protracted incident, which can lead to a significant strain on the operational resilience of Fire Rescue Service (FRS) resources, leading to challenges maintaining a business-as-usual service.

This is the third reported fire reported to Sprinkler Saves Uk involving a e-bike/scooter within a domestic dwelling, on each occasion the fire was contained, controlled and extinguished by the activation of the premises sprinkler system.

Avon Fire Rescue Service (AFRS), report that a E-bicycle within the hallway of a four roomed flat close to the flat front door caught fire.

• Preventing the occupants from self-evacuating the dwelling to a place of safety.
• 10 persons in the dwelling at the time of the fire sought refuge in a room until rescued by firefighters using an aerial ladder platform from the fourth floor of the building.
• The heat generated from the fire activated 1 concealed sprinkler head directly above the seat of the fire which contained, controlled and extinguished the fire before the arrival of AFRS.
• Minor injuries were reported for the residents rescued from the flat for smoke inhalation.

From the two previous incidents reported. In one, the family were unable to self-evacuate from their flat because the escape route was compromised by fire resulting in firefighters assisting, rescuing them from their dwelling.

• April 2023, Birmingham retrofitted residential block of flats¹

1. E-bicycle, lithium-ion battery left on charge in the hallway of the flat which caught fire compromising the means of escape.
2. Fire extinguished by the activation of the sprinkler system.
3. Family sought refuge on their external balcony until rescued by firefighters
4. No injuries reported.

A West Midlands mum says her partner and her young son owe their lives to a sprinkler system

after it doused a fire in their high-rise home. She is quoted as saying in a West Midlands Fire & Rescue Service (WMFRS) media release: “We couldn’t get out. We were on the tenth floor. It was too high. I can tell you for sure that the sprinklers saved our lives. It is brilliant they were installed in the first place.”

• December 2024, Gloucestershire house of multi occupancy²

1. E-Bike, lithium-ion battery left on charge within a studio flat which caught fire
2. 1 sprinkler head activated within the room of origin extinguishing the fire.
3. Resident self-evacuated the premises prior to the arrival of the FRS.
4. No injuries reported.

Obi Selassie, Gloucestershire FRS Station Manager “If it was not for the activation of the sprinkler system extinguishing the fire before the arrival of the fire service, we could be discussing a different outcome for this incident, The benefits of sprinklers should not be underestimated they save lives and reduce injuries, protect firefighters.”

The growing risk of e-bike and e-scooter fires involving lithium batteries should not be underestimated as these fires can spread rapidly and develop into larger fires within a short period of time, potentially leading to significant uncontrollable runaway fires. Despite sprinkler protection of lithium batteries being outside the scope of current sprinkler design standards, these incident(s) demonstrates that a sprinkler system can contain and help, control a e-bike/scooter lithium battery fire. Reaffirming the importance of not charging batteries within your escape routes, the dangers of lithium battery fires should not be underestimated as they can spread quickly out of control developing into significant fires within a short period of time.

Providing further evidence that the main functional objectives of a life safety sprinkler system were achieved.

• Reducing the rate of heat and smoke, containing, controlling the fire.
• Reducing the likelihood of a fire spreading beyond the room of origin.
• Firefighters operated without due risk to either effect rescue or assist evacuation.
• Prevent conflagration

Adding further evidence to the reliability and effectiveness of sprinkler systems following the two recent reports conducted ³Optimal 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.

The Incident

• Fire crews were mobilised to a flat fire within a residential block of flats following an emergency call received by AFRS control.
• Following the completion of a dynamic risk assessment on arrival by the incident commander (IC) it was established that the sprinkler system on the 4 floor of the 6-storey building had operated within a 4 roomed flat.
• The provision of the sprinkler system provided extra time for the IC to implement a robust operational tactical plan for the incident.
• Upon entry to the flat, fire crews established that a fire within the flat hallway had been contained, controlled and extinguished by the activation of 1 concealed sprinkler head located directly above the seat of the fire.
• Minimal fire/smoke damage was reported within the hallway.
• No further firefighting media was required by AFRS.
• 10 residents were required to be rescued by firefighters via turntable ladder due to the location of the fire near the flat front door compromising the means of escape.
• Cause of the fire, accidental involving a E-bicycle.
• The common ways of the premises were not compromised by the fire as the flat front door (FD30S) contained the fire to the flat of origin

All images credit AFRS

This incident demonstrates the benefits of installing, sprinklers within residential tall buildings, demonstrating that a correctly designed and installed sprinkler system to BS9251 can detect, raise the alarm, control or extinguish the fire at an early stage of development. Providing attending crews with confidence when attending tall building fires which are sprinkler protected compared to other buildings which are not sprinkler protected.

AFRS maintaining a business-as-usual service

Austerity, cuts in public funding across the country have significantly impacted FRS resulting in a significant reduction to front line cover and prevention and protection activities putting a strain on resources impacting on public safety and service delivery. Major protracted fire incidents therefore have a knock-on effect on local FRS resources, leading to challenges maintaining a business-as-usual service allowing an effective response to attend other emergencies. The benefits of installing sprinkler systems in the built environment for FRS should not be underestimated.

Reducing the rate of production of heat and smoke, limiting fire development preventing flash over providing the FRS.

1. With a further layer pf protection for firefighters
2. Crucial time for the operational tactical plan to be implemented by the IC
3. To complete search and rescue operations
4. Resources released earlier from the incident, to attend other emergency incidents allowing a business-as-usual service to be maintained.

Due to the positive impact following the operation of the sprinkler system, the incident was scaled down by the IC, allowing the release of resources to be available to attend other emergencies.

Sources/further reading. 

• Sprinkler Saves Review 2023/2024
• Sprinkler saves Spring Update No 7
• BAFSA Information file, A guide for Responsible Persons and Duty Holder
• Avon Fire and Rescue Service, sprinklers
• ¹Sprinkler save review, April 2023, Birmingham retrofitted residential block of flats
• ²Sprinkler Save review, December 2024, Gloucestershire house of multi occupancy
• ³Optimal economics report, efficiency and effectiveness of sprinkler systems in the Uk

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.