LFB Reported Sprinkler Activations February-March 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(s) of February -March 2025 where Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS) were reported as present, 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 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 February/March 2025 where AFSS were reported as present, having an impact in Greater London.

• 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.

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: – 13 Incidents reported.

• 5 incidents, 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
• 1 incident where the fire was contained/controlled by the activation of the ³drencher system
• 1 incident where the water mist system impact was recorded as ¹not know
• 4 incidents reported where the sprinkler system did not operate, due to

1. 1x Insufficient heat to operate the sprinkler system
2. 1x Not known
3. 2x Sprinkler system was not in the area where the fire occurred

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 13 AFSS activations reported, 2 incidents involved, Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes – 10 or more storeys 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 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.Westminister Bus/coach station/garage

• Date of Incident; February
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; corridor/hall
• AFSS; Sprinklers.
• Impact of AFSS; Contained/controlled
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.

A fire involving the unsafe disposal of a cigarette within the corridor/hall of a bus station terminal was contained, controlled by the activation of 1 sprinkler head which raised the alarm, the fire was extinguished by crews using a 1x hose reel jet with fire spread limited to item first ignited.

2.Westminister Takeaway, fast food

• Date of Incident; February
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Watermist
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• ²Number of sprinkler heads operated; 0

It is reported that a fire within the basement of a fast-food deep fat fryer restaurant was extinguished by the activation of the premises watermist system containing the fire to the room of origin. On arrival operational crews deployed a hose reel jet to extinguish remaining hotspots.

Further enquires would have to be made with LFB confirming the details recorded for the fixed firefighting system present, having an impact. Typically, the type of firefighting system found in commercial kitchens are wet chemical systems used for object protection, kitchen areas, fryers, oil cookers etc and not used for area wide protection of a building.

The benefit of installing wet chemicals is that they provide excellent flame knockdown and surface cooling the scope of kitchen protection should include all appliances that are capable of catching fire and not just the deep fat fryers, protection should cover ventilated ceilings/hoods, plenums and duct entrances and should be activated simultaneously.

²The number of water mist nozzles operated are not required to be recorded by the end user for watermist systems

3. Kensington and Chelsea Converted Flat/Maisonettes – 3 or more storeys

• Date of Incident; February
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 2

Fire crews were mobilised to reports of a fire within a converted Victorian terraced building converted into flats, on arrival the IC identified that the sprinkler system operated containing, controlling the fire within a flat by the activation of 2 sprinkler heads.

The fire was extinguished by firefighters using 1 hose reel jet, further enquires are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.

4. Southwark Restaurant/café

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

It is reported that the activation of 1 sprinkler head extinguished a fire within a commercial kitchen, contained to the item first ignited with 5m² fire damage. No further firefighting was required.

5. Waltham Forest House (single private dwelling)

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

The benefits of sprinklers as a life safety system reinforced following a kitchen fire involving a chip pan/deep fat fryer which was extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head. Firefighters rescued two persons on arrival,  fire spread was contained to the item first ignited with no further firefighting required by operational crews on arrival.

6.Westminister Public House

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

A basement kitchen fire involving a cooking pan left unattended resulted in the attendance of 25 firefighters to control, extinguish the fire which damaged the kitchen and the ducting. It is reported that a drencher system was present having an impact containing controlling the fire.

The benefits of fixed firefighting systems controlling a fire has been proven to protect property, business and jobs with the impacted business operational within hours, avoiding the economic and social costs.

Further enquires would have to be made with LFB regarding the IRS primary fire data recorded for this incident as a drencher system is designed primarily for exterior fire protection. Typically, in commercial kitchens fixed firefighting systems such as wet chemical systems are used for object protection, kitchen areas, fryers, oil cookers etc and not used for area wide protection of a building.

The benefit of installing wet chemicals is that they provide excellent flame knockdown and surface cooling the scope of kitchen protection should include all appliances that are capable of catching fire and not just the deep fat fryers, protection should cover ventilated ceilings/hoods, plenums and duct entrances and should be activated simultaneously.

7 Newham Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes – 10 or more storeys

• Date of Incident; March
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Living room
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 2

LFB were mobilised to reports of a fire within a new purpose-built block of flats, on arrival it was established that a living room fire within a flat had been extinguished by the activation of 2 sprinkler heads which contained, controlled the fire to the room of origin.

No further firefighting was required, the cause of the fire was reported to involve wiring, cabling, plugs.

8. Westminster Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes – 10 or more storeys

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

The benefits of installing sprinklers within a mixed-use development was reinforced following reports of a fire involving smoking materials within a flat which was extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head which contained the fire to the room of origin, no further firefighting was required by firefighters.

4x incidents were reported where the sprinkler system did not activate which was due to either: –

• Insufficient heat to operate, activate the sprinkler system.
• The sprinkler system was not in the area where the fire
• Further  enquiries would have to be made to establish the facts with LFB for  1 incident recorded as not known.

9. Croydon Ford and drink processing

• Date of Incident; February
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; ⁴Did not contain/control.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 0

It is reported that a fire in an item of electrical equipment within a fast-food modular restaurant commercial kitchen was extinguished using a local water supply. Whilst a sprinkler system was installed no heads operated as the fire was in an area not covered by the system.

Further enquires would have to be made with LFB regarding the IRS primary fire data recorded for this incident as a sprinkler system is typically not found in these types of modular restaurants  Typically, in commercial kitchens fixed firefighting systems such as wet chemical systems are used for object protection, kitchen areas, fryers, oil cookers etc and not used for area wide protection of a building.

The benefit of installing wet chemicals is that they provide excellent flame knockdown and surface cooling the scope of kitchen protection should include all appliances that are capable of catching fire and not just the deep fat fryers, protection should cover ventilated ceilings/hoods, plenums and duct entrances and should be activated simultaneously.

⁴Firefighting system impact, did not contained/control the fire, this is a typo error as the system did not activate

10. Southwark self-contained sheltered housing

• Date of Incident; February
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; Not Known
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 0

It is reported that firefighters were called to a kitchen fire involving a microwave oven, whilst a sprinkler system was installed within the premises it did not operate, no firefighting was required as the heat source was removed.

11. Kensington & Chelsea restaurant/cafe

• Date of Incident; February
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; Not Known
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 0

Fire crews were called to reports of a commercial kitchen fire involving a dishwasher, no further firefighting was required on arrival with fire spread limited to item first ignited, the sprinkler system did not operate due to insufficient heat.

12. Hillingdon purpose-built flats/maisonettes – 10 or more storeys

• Date of Incident; March
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; Not Known
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 0

Firefighting crews were mobilised to reports of a flat kitchen fire, it was established by the IC that no further firefighting was required as the item first ignited had been removed from the heat source. The retrofitted sprinkler system installed in 2020 within the dwellings did not activate due to insufficient heat.

13.Wandsworth purpose-built flats/maisonettes – 10 or more storeys

• Date of Incident; March
• Incident; Fire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen.
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Impact of AFSS; Not Known
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 0

A small incident involving wiring, cabling within a flat bedroom was successfully closed using a local water supply. The sprinkler system did not operate due to insufficient heat being generated by the fire within the room of origin.

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.