Greater Manchester Sprinkler Activations July-August 2025

Introduction

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) provided primary fire data from the ¹incident recording system and additional sources for the specified period, documenting cases where Automatic Water Suppression Systems (AWSS) were present, having an impact within Greater Manchester.

 The review

The incidents contained within this review provides additional evidence supporting the reliability and effectiveness of AWSS, aligning with findings from the report conducted by ²Optimal Economics and commissioned by the National Fire Chiefs Council and National Fire Sprinkler Network on the performance of sprinkler systems in controlling and extinguishing fires.

5 incidents reported for July-August 2025

Of the five reported sprinkler incidents reported, three were extinguished, one was contained and controlled, and the remaining incident was classified as “other.” In the latter case, the system did not activate because only fumes were released.

Information was provided allowing a full review to be published for one of the 3 incidents involving purpose-built block of flats providing further evidence on the benefits of retrofitting a life safety residential sprinkler system in high rise residential buildings supporting the calls from the NFCC and the fire sector urging government to introduce further regulations for the installation of retrofitting sprinklers in the built environment.

If it was not for the foresight of the Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest providers of affordable housing to retrofit residential sprinklers in all buildings exceeding 18 metres in height, following the Grenfell tragedy, the outcome of this incident could have been significantly different.

The incident

• Fire crews responded to a reported fire within a 15-storey building.
• Following the completion of a dynamic risk assessment by the incident commander.
• It was established that the fire involved a flat on the eleventh floor.
• Firefighters were committed to extinguish the fire who established upon entry that the fire had been contained, controlled and extinguished within the room of origin by the activation of 1 sprinkler head.
• Up to 5sqm fire damage was reported for within the room of origin.
• The cause of the fire, careless disposal of smoking materials.
• No injuries were reported.

The benefits sprinklers

For this reported fire, the benefits of retrofitting a residential sprinkler system within the dwellings of a single staircase purpose-built block of flats. The outcome of which

• Restricted the fire’s growth, containing and controlling the fire to the room of origin.
• Extinguished the fire before the arrival of GMFRS
• Preventing a potential major protracted incident that could challenge FRS maintaining a business-as-usual routine service.

Of the remaining two residential tall building fires, the fire was extinguished within the room of origin by the activation of 1 sprinkler head.

Conclusion

These incidents illustrate that AWSS are integral to a thorough fire safety strategy, protecting lives, property, and the environment. It also strengthens ongoing advocacy efforts by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and stakeholders within the fire sector for more rigorous government regulations regarding the retrofitting of sprinklers in existing buildings.

BAFSA welcomed the government’s November 2020 decision to lower the height threshold for mandatory sprinklers in purpose group 1a (residential blocks of flats) from 30 metres to 11 metres. Nevertheless, concerns persist regarding the lack of requirements to retrofit existing residential buildings with sprinklers.

In alignment with the ⁴National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) sprinkler position statement, The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association advocate for government action to mandate the retrofitting of sprinklers in high-rise residential buildings. Retrofitting should apply to all existing residential buildings over 18 metres in height, or those with at least seven storeys served by a single staircase, as well as all existing residential buildings exceeding 11 metres, based on risk assessments.

Sources/further reading. 

• ¹Incident recording system, after an emergency fire call, key incident details are entered daily into the IRS by the officer in charge.)
• ²Efficiency and Effectiveness of sprinkler systems in the United Kingdom: An Analysis from Fire Service Data
• ³Sprinkler Saves Review 2024/25, This review showcases just how essential AWSS, including sprinklers and watermist systems, are in safeguarding our communities from the devastating effects of fire
• ⁴National Fire Chiefs Council AWSS Position Statement