LFB Reported Sprinkler Activations December 2024 – January 2025

Introduction

Our gratitude to The London Fire Brigade (LFB) 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 of December 2024/January 2025 where sprinklers/watermist were reported as present and having an impact in Greater London.

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 Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS) which save lives, protect firefighters, homes and businesses as part of an appropriate package of fire safety benefits

London Fire Brigade

LFB Is one of the largest, firefighting, community safety rescue services in the world protecting residents and property in Greater London as well as those who work or visit the capital. They report attending 126,464 incidents of which 16,120 were fires for the year 2023.

London

As the capital of the United Kingdom, London is also the largest city with a population of just over nine million and is projected to reach 10 million by 2035. It is home to one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world. There are 32 boroughs in Greater London, except for the City of London which is a county and government district. The risk from fire in the capital is diverse, ranging from large industrial premises, complex retail shopping centres, major transport hubs, and large high-rise residential developments. The latter is a key area as half of the population of London live in flats compared to less than 20% in the rest of the country.

The Review

The incidents contained within this review are collated from the Incident Recording System (IRS) for the month of December 2024/January 2025 where AFSS were reported as present and having an impact in Greater London.

• Providing evidence on the vital role AFSS 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.

 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 officer in charge 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

• 15x Incidents reported where AFSS were present.
• 8x incidents where the fire was extinguished by the activation of a sprinkler system
• 1x incident where the fire was contained/controlled by the activation of a sprinkler system
• 1x incident where the water mist system impact was recorded as ¹not known
• 5x incidents reported where the sprinkler system did not operate, due to

1. Insufficient heat to operate the sprinkler system
2. Sprinkler system was turned off
3. Sprinkler system was not in the area where the fire occurred

These incidents provide further evidence, supporting the most recent 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 where sprinklers, water mist 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 10 sprinkler/water mist activations reported, two incidents involved tall residential building flat fires, extinguished on both occasions by the operation of the sprinkler system, providing further evidence that the main functional objectives of a life safety sprinkler system were achieved.

• Reducing the rate of heat and smoke, containing and controlling 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.Ealing Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes – 4 to 9 storeys

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.

A flat kitchen fire involving cooking, extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head with fire spread limited to room of origin with up to 5% fire damage reported. No further firefighting media was required by operational crews on arrival.

2. Tower Hamlets Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes – 10 or more storeys

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 2.

A fire within a flat living room was extinguished by the activation of 2 sprinkler heads, the cause of the fire involved candle/tealights accidently knocked onto an item of furniture. No further fighting media was required by operational crews to extinguish the fire. Fire spread was limited to item first ignited with up to 5sqm fire damage reported within the dwelling.

3.Brent self-contained sheltered housing

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.

This incident identifies why the English government should be looking to install sprinklers into all new specialised and supported housing. If it was not for the operation of the sprinkler system, the outcome of this incident could have been so much different.

The demographic change in specialised and supported housing population has resulted in an increase in the occurrence of mobility difficulties, reduced sensory capability and cognitive difficulties, all of which bring greater risk from fire, in terms of likelihood of fire and vulnerability in the event of a fire.

The study analysis of national ³fire data, an in-depth review of fire-related fatalities and severe casualties in England, 2010/11 to 2018/19 referenced that while there is a lack of recent research on fatal fires, the available studies consistently identified age, the presence of an impairment such as physical disability, smoking, and alcohol use as key factors on the outcome of the fire, as they will be less able to respond to a fire.

A bedroom fire involving smoking materials was extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head, limiting fire damage to item first ignited with 6-10sqm of fire damage reported.

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.

Fire protection is dependent on both passive and active fire systems such as sprinklers working in unison providing a further layer of safety from fire as part of a package of fire safety measures, in reducing the impact of fire on people, firefighters, property and the environment.

4/5.Camden Hospital

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.

Hospitals are a vital community asset, yet at present there is no statutory requirements for sprinklers to be provided in hospitals in England except for high rise (more than 30m) and in certain commercial enterprises contained within hospital buildings.

The National Fire Chiefs Council report that the Department of Health and Social Care in England’s Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 05-02: Fire risk in management in healthcare premises recommends the installation of sprinkler systems in hospitals. This document encourages sprinklers but does not mandate them, a recommendation that hospitals are choosing to ignore.

It is therefore refreshing to report that the benefits of sprinklers in hospitals were clearly demonstrated following two fires within two days in the same large NHS Hospital involving batteries or generators which were extinguished on both occasions by the operation of one sprinkler head limiting fire damage to the room of origin on both occasions.

Compare this to the events of 2008/09 which saw five significant fires at NHS sites in London which required the evacuation of part or whole of the building.  Resulting in a report to be published by NHS London “Review of five London Hospital fires and their management” to identify the lessons identified from the incidents allowing the ongoing development for the planning for the evacuation and shelter of people in healthcare premises.

Disappointingly no reference is made within the publication regarding the benefits of sprinklers for healthcare premises as part of a package of fire safety measures.

.6. Havering recycling plant

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Water mist.
• Impact of AFSS; Not known.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; Not known.

On a regular basis the national press report multi-agency responses to large fires involving waste sites, recycling plants impacting the local community, environment. The outcome road closures, residents required to close windows doors due to harmful smoke containing harmful contaminants resulting in a major environmental impact.

When you compare this to the above-mentioned incident involving a water mist system that operated following a fire involving industrial equipment limiting fire damage to item first ignited with up to 5sqm fire damage, the fire was extinguished by operational crews using a hose reel jet via pumping appliance.

This incident reinforces that one of the most effective strategies for containing, controlling or extinguishing these types of fires is by the operation of an AFSS the benefit: –

• Minimise the impact of unmanageable fires.
• Reducing costs to business/economy.
• Prevent conflagration.
• Reduce the environmental impact.

7. City of London Shopping Centre

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 2.

A fire within a commercial unit kitchen involving cooking was extinguished by the operation of two sprinkler heads, fire spread was limited to item first ignited with no further firefighting required by operational crews.

Business continuity, due the positive impact of the sprinkler system, the commercial unit opened the following day for business.

In shopping centres, it is common practice to protect the commercial unit/shop unit with fire sprinklers to contain the fire. Fire sprinklers are not normally installed in the malls due to the limited combustible loading allowed in these zones. Fires have significant impact on business continuity which can lead to business closures, major impact on the local environment, requiring major FRS resources.

For example, a fire that occurred in July 2019 at the Walthamstow Mall requiring over 20 fire appliances and more than 110 firefighters to extinguish the fire. The shopping centre remained closed for two months with the damaged portion of the mall reopening in October 2020.

Shopping centres are complex buildings that often include a variety of uses within them, leisure areas, hotels, apartments, cinemas and offices. Therefore, retail centres require a high standard of management compared to other building uses.

Which extends to ensuring the premises fire safety systems are operable in the event of a fire including fire sprinklers, fire alarm system, dry/wet risers, smoke extraction units and fire curtains. To highlight this, LFB published an open letter in 2020, to those responsible for fire safety in shopping centres. Highlighting the importance of maintaining fire safety systems including the premises fire sprinkler system.

8. Hillingdon Other Residential Home

• Date of incident; January 2025.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.

This incident provides further evidence that the operation of a correctly designed and installed sprinkler system installed, maintained in accordance with the appropriate codes and standards reduces the rate of production of heat and smoke, allowing more time for the occupants to escape to safety or be rescued.

A bedroom fire within a 3-storey building was extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head which contained the fire to room of origin, fire damage limited to item first ignited enquires are ongoing to identify the cause of the fire.

9. City of London Pub/Wine bar/bar

• Date of incident; January 2025.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.

A fire involving a faulty fan heater electrical appliance was extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head which extinguished the fire, no further firefighting media was required by LFB.

10. Ealing Other Industrial Plant

• Date of incident; January 2025.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Contained and control.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.

A fire involving a laundry warehouse was contained/controlled by the activation of 4 sprinkler heads on the first floor before the arrival of LFB. The fire was extinguished by operational crews wearing Breathing Apparatus using a high-pressure hose reel.

An area approximately covering two square metres was damaged by fire, smoke damaged one hundred percent of the upper floor, there were no reports of any injuries. The fire is believed to have been accidental caused by the self-heating of textiles which often become contaminated with oil, most commonly linseed massage and cooking oil on tea towels, tablecloths.

When you compare this to a major blaze reported by the Business Sprinkler Alliance at the K Laundry in Ramsgate in 2024 where the 1,800m² laundry facility was destroyed in the blaze. The loss of the building will cause major disruption for the established business, The premises was not sprinkler protected.

Incidents where sprinklers were present, not having an impact

5x incidents were reported where the sprinkler system did not activate which was due to either: –

• Insufficient heat to operate, activate the sprinkler system.
• The system was not operational as it had been turned off.
• The sprinkler system was not in the area where the fire occurred.

11.Kingston Upon Thames Other Entertainment Venue

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; N/A
• Number of sprinkler heads operated, N/A

A fire involving a white goods appliance, dishwasher was confined to the item first ignited with limited fire damage reported, no firefighting action was required with the electrical connection to the appliance disconnected.

The premises sprinkler system did not operate which was due to insufficient heat generated by the fire allowing the nearest head to operate.

12.Southwark Recycling Plant

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; N/A.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; N/A.

A fire involving an appliance or equipment was extinguished by one main branch/jet with fire spread limited to the room of origin. The premises sprinkler system did not activate as the system was turned off at the time of the fire.

13. Recycling Plant

• Date of incident; December 2024.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; N/A.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; N/A.

A fire in a canteen microwave was extinguished with a handheld fire extinguisher, containing the fire to the room of origin. The sprinkler system located on the same floor as the fire did not activate due to insufficient heat from the fire.

14. City of London Underground car park

• Date of incident; January 2025.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; N/A.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; N/A.

A fire involving batteries/generators within a parking garage was extinguished by the application of a dry powder extinguisher, fire spread to item first ignited. The premises sprinkler system did not operate as insufficient heat was generated to activate the nearest sprinkler head.

15. Southwark Restaurant/Cafe

• Date of incident; January 2025.
• Incident; Fire.
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; N/A.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; N/A.

A kitchen fire involving cooking was extinguished by the application of a handheld fire extinguisher with one person suffering a minor injury The sprinkler system did not operate as the location of the fire was not in an area protected by the system. 

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: –

• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• Efficiency and Effectiveness of sprinkler systems in the Uk
• Review of five hospital fires and their management
• BAFSA Information file technical guidance No 3 Using water mist in buildings and structures
• MRW publication, Ian Cox Waste sites need sprinkler protection
• ³Fire data, an in-depth review of fire-related fatalities and severe casualties in England, 2010/11 to 2018/19
• Business Sprinkler Alliance, blaze destroys century old Kent laundry

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.