Lancashire Reported Sprinkler Activations July-December 2024

Lancashire Reported Sprinkler Activations July-December 2024

Introduction

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) should be applauded for their ongoing support, playing a key leadership role in promoting the benefits of fire sprinklers by the reporting of sprinkler activations, rising to the call from the National Fire Chiefs Council who actively encourage fire services to collate, provide fire data and case studies to Sprinkler Saves UK.

Reporting incidents taken from the Incident Recording System (IRS) for the month(s) of July, August and December 2024 where Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS) were reported as present, having an impact in Lancashire.

Raising awareness of how the destructive effects of fire can be mitigated, and in most cases, be prevented through the enhanced use of sprinklers, and other forms of AFSS which save lives, protect firefighters, homes and businesses as part of an appropriate package of fire safety benefits

Lancashire

The county of Lancashire has a resident population of 1.45 million and, is one of the most populated and urbanised shire counties in Britain comprising of 12 districts within the Lancashire County Council area, and two unitary authorities in Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.

Major risks in the county are diverse including.

• Transport infrastructure, The M6 motorway, West coast mainline, Blackpool airport, the seaports located at Heysham and Fleetwood.
• Energy infrastructure, two nuclear facilities located at Heysham and Springfields.
• Thirteen Industrial sites that require special plans to deal with hazards under COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2025 legislation)

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Is structured into six area commands with 39 fire stations consisting of 18 immediate response stations, 17 retained and four-day crewed stations providing Lancashire with 24-hour fire cover.

The Review

The incidents contained within this review are collated from the Incident Recording System (IRS) where AFSS were reported as present, having an impact in Lancashire for the above-mentioned period

• Providing evidence on the vital role sprinklers and other forms of suppression play by highlighting real, tangible examples of where they have actuated.
• Raising awareness of the importance of collating sprinkler actuations from across the United Kingdom so societal awareness of the true value of sprinklers can be increased.
• Allowing trends, anomalies to be identified in the emerging UK AFSS firefighting industry allowing the continued review of technical standards ensuring best practice within the sprinkler, fire industry.
• Providing further evidence reaffirming the reliability and effectiveness of sprinkler systems following the two reports conducted by ¹Optimal 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.
• Educating, informing FRS of the benefits of AFSS allowing the business-as-usual service to be maintained by reducing the impact of major fire incidents allowing the release of resources to provide an effective response to attend other emergencies.

Incident Recording System (IRS)

When a household or business has made an emergency fire call, key information around the incident is captured, inputted daily into the IRS by the Incident Commander (IC)of the incident using software forms structured into logical groups. For the most severe fire incidents the senior fire investigation officer compiles a report that details the findings of the investigation and the most likely origin and cause. Once completed, this officer reviews and where necessary updates the IRS record to reflect the findings of the investigation.

 Each group contains questions in data fields with associated lists containing the appropriate answer options. Data collected about serious reportable fires include:

• Time and date of call
• Fire Service or other geographical area
• Type of building or vehicle
• Most likely motive (accidental or malicious)
• Cause of fire (chip pan fires, electrical, etc.)
• Source of ignition (cigarettes, cookers, etc.)
• Materials (furniture, etc.)
• The spread of fire (beyond room of origin, etc.)
• The nature of fire casualties
• Rescue information and method of extinction
• The effectiveness of automatic smoke detectors
• Were there any active safety systems present?

The importance of monitoring AFSS incident data has been acknowledged by the inclusion of the active safety system field focusing on the following performance characteristics of AFSS fire data.

• Type of active safety system present
• Location of active safety systems in relation to fire
• Did the system operate
• How many operated
• Impact upon fire
• Reason system did not function as intended

The IRS data captured is dependent on the fire officer who inputs the data and their training, experience of AFSS and commitment to complete reporting. Not all fire officers might be able to identify the difference between a sprinkler or water mist system or take the time to count the number of sprinkler head activations before leaving the scene.

The use of IRS data plays an important role in promoting the benefits of AFSS as part of a combination of fire safety measures to reduce the impact of fire on our communities, property and the environment, while assisting fire firefighters in carrying out search and rescue operations by limiting fire development.

It should be remembered the installation of a life safety sprinkler 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.

Key facts: – 6 Incidents reported.

• 1 incident, where the fire was extinguished by the activation of the sprinkler system
• 2 incidents where the fire was contained/controlled by the activation of the sprinkler system
• 2 incidents were reported where the sprinkler system did not operate, due to insufficient heat to operate the sprinkler system with the remaining incident recorded as not known.

These incidents provide further evidence, supporting the UK research which was commissioned by The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) and supported by BAFSA in the publication, “Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom: An Analysis from Fire Service Data”. Across all premises types:

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

Incidents AFSS were reported as present, having an impact.

Post the Grenfell tower fire, regulatory and sector changes relating to fire safety have occurred. One such change has been the increase in installations of sprinklers across the country with housing providers, local authorities and developers committing to install sprinklers in purpose-built block of flats on a new and retrofit basis.

Of the 3 AFSS activations reported, the fire was either contained, controlled or extinguished by the operation of the sprinkler system, providing further evidence that the main functional objectives of a sprinkler system were achieved.

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

1.Residential Care Home

• Date of Incident; July 2024
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Laundry room
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Contained/controlled
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.

Residential care premises present a series of unique challenges with respect to fire safety. The needs of the occupants and the resources required to undertake an evacuation in these types of premises require careful consideration both in the design and ongoing operation of such buildings, to ensure that an appropriate level of fire safety is provided.

The diminished senses that result from the ageing process may ultimately result in the occupants of residential care premises having a slower reaction time to raise an alarm, and due to the residents’ reduced physical capabilities, a slower response time to an alarm, which may result in an increased evacuation time. All the above- mentioned factors combine to increase the risk of injury or fatality in a fire, especially where assistance from carers may be restricted at night.

The Incident

It is reported that a fire involving a white goods tumble dryer was contained, controlled within the room of origin by the operation of one sprinkler head before the arrival of the LFRS. The alarm was raised following the activation of the premises fire alarm system, upon investigation by staff smoke was observed within the room of origin.

The benefit of the sprinkler system allowed the growth of the fire to be contained/controlled, allowing additional time for

• Staff, to implement the premises emergency plan, progressive horizontal evacuation.
• Incident commander (IC) to implement an operational tactical plan on arrival.

The fire was extinguished by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using 1 hose reel jet, moderate fire and heat damage was reported within the room of origin.

At the conclusion of the incident, following a dynamic risk assessment by the IC,

• The sprinkler stop valve was isolated.
• Electrics made safe by isolating the supply.

It should be remembered. 

• The sprinkler system maintained the care homes continuity of providing care to their residents with minimal disruption, valuable community asset saved.

2.Industrial Processing

• Date of Incident; July 2024
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Recycling plant floor section
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; Contained/controlled
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; More than 5

It is reported that multiple fire pumps were mobilised to a fire involving lithium batteries which self-heated setting light to waste contained within an internal waste storage area involving 7 tons of recycling waste material.

The fire was contained, controlled by the activation of multiple sprinkler heads with slight smoke damage reported within the compartment of origin.

3. Retail Outlet

• Date of Incident; December
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1

Fire crews were mobilised to reports of a fire within a commercial kitchen, on arrival it was established that the fire had been extinguished by the activation of one sprinkler head.

The fire was determined to be caused by natural occurrence and accidental self-heating¹. A bag containing dish towels impregnated with residue cooking oils had been washed by a member of staff and left to dry in the bag, which subsequently caught light.

¹the combination of heat, cooking fats and oxygenating chemicals from stain removing detergent products can create a chemical reaction, causing towels to start smouldering and catch fire. When piled, heat has nowhere to escape, which can result in the ignition point being reached.

Incidents where sprinklers were present, not having an impact

3 incidents were reported where the sprinkler system did not activate which was due to either: –

• Insufficient heat to operate the sprinkler system
• Not known

4. Hospitals and Medical care

It is reported that a minor fire involving an electric magnetic door lock electric coil was made safe by the onsite maintenance electrician following the activation of a manual call point. The sprinkler system did not activate due to insufficient heat, fire damage was reported to item first ignited.

5. Commercial Premises

Fire crews were mobilised to a fire within a pet food processing plant involving a forklift, on arrival the IC established that the battery terminal charging the forklift had ignited. The fire was extinguished by firefighters wearing BA using two hose reel jets.

The completed Incident IRS identified that the sprinkler system did not activate, recorded as unknown. Further enquires would have to be completed by LFRS to establish the rationale for this anomaly.

6. Waste Transfer Centre

Following reports of a fire within an open-ended waste transfer warehouse containing a stack of domestic waste, it was established by firefighters using a thermal image camera that a damaged lithium-ion drill battery contained in the waste had a temperature reading of 40 degrees celsius.

The battery was removed, submerged in a bucket of water with the stack of waste cooled using a hose reel jet. The premises sprinkler system did not operate due to insufficient heat

Advice For Building Managers, the following advice is intended for building managers, individuals who have responsibility for fire safety within a building. It is paramount that fire protection measures in buildings can function effectively in the event of a fire.

To achieve this: –

2. Maintenance, the premises fire protection measures should be maintained periodically in accordance with the relevant standards and codes, to ensure they are always operational and available.
3. Emergency Plan, the premises emergency plan should include Information onsite for the Fire Rescue Service 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.
4. Reinstatement of the Fire Protection Measures, arrangements should be in place allowing the immediate reinstatement of the sprinkler system. 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.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, it is a requirement of the Order for the responsible person to implement the appropriate arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring of the preventive and protective measures.

Further detailed guidance on sprinkler protected buildings can be found in the BAFSA Information file, a guide for responsible persons and duty holder.

Sources/further reading. 

• Sprinkler Saves Review 2023/2024
• Sprinkler Saves Summer Update No 6
• LFB sprinklers and other types of AFSS
• BAFSA Information file, A guide for Responsible Persons and Duty Holder
• 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.