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 September where sprinklers 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.
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 September where AFSS were reported as present and having an impact in Greater London.
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:
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.
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
Water as an extinguishing media for sprinkler systems
The physical properties of water produce a wide range of benefits, effects in a compartment fire.
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.
9x Incidents were reported for the month of September where Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS)were present of which two had a impact.
Reported Incidents
Fire crews were mobilised to a fire within a flat on the 2nd floor of a 10-storey high rise residential building containing 54 dwellings. On arrival fire crews established that a fire within the living room had been extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head although a hose reel jet from the tank was utilised. The cause of the fire was identified to involve a tea light/candle setting light to textiles with fire spread confined to item 1st ignited, 1 person received minor injuries.
2. Lambeth Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes – 10 or more storeys
It is reported that an apartment fire on the second floor was contained/controlled by the activation of 1 concealed sprinkler head before the arrival of fire crews, the fire was extinguished using a main jet. The seat of the fire was identified to be within a cupboard and thought to be electrical in origin with fire spread limited to item 1st ignited.
3. Brent Hotel
It is reported that the electrical supply to a magnetic door holding device fitted to a corridor door was isolated following reports of smoke issuing from the device, no further firefighting media was required. Sprinkler system coverage was not provided within the fire affected area
4. Islington Purpose Built Flats/Maisonettes – 10 or more storeys
Student accommodation is undoubtedly a challenging environment from a fire safety perspective with their own individual challenges. The student’s lifestyle is typically associated with a reduced level of caution when it comes to appreciating risk. It is the view of BAFSA and the National Fire Chiefs Council that sprinklers should be installed in all new student accommodation regardless of height, as well as existing buildings undergoing refurbishment, regardless of height providing a further layer of safety from fire.
It is reported that fire crews were mobilised to a small fire involving audio equipment located within a purpose-built mixed development bedroom housing student accommodation which was out on arrival.
IRS data references, the sprinkler system coverage was not provided within the fire affected area which is surprising as guidance within in the specific codes/standards would require sprinkler coverage to include the bedrooms.
The benefits of installing sprinklers for student accommodation was clearly identified following a fire within a Nottinghamshire high rise student accommodation block involving an incense candle which was successfully contained, extinguished within a cluster flat bedroom by the activation of 1 concealed sprinkler head with no injuries reported. The provided images clearly demonstrate the benefits of sprinklers
Click here for further details
Credit images Nationwide fire sprinklers. Credit Nottinghamshire FRS Credit Nottinghamshire FRS
5. Brent Food and drink processing
6 pumping appliances were mobilised to a fire within a ground floor commercial kitchen within a purpose-built retail warehouse of 3 floors measuring 80m by 50m. On arrival, the officer in charge was provided with an overview of the incident by the maintenance manager who confirmed the fire involved a deep fat fryer which was protected by a water mist system. Due to a fault on the water mist system, the fire was not contained/controlled before the arrival of LFB, the fire was extinguished by operational crews using firefighting media including a dry powder extinguisher, hose reel and main jet, the fire was under control at 22:31.
6. Bexley Factory
Fire crews were mobilised to a fire involving an industrial conveyor belt system which was contained within the system therefore insufficient heat was created allowing the operation of the sprinkler system. The fire was extinguished by firefighters using a hose reel jet.
7. Towe Hamlets Purpose Built Office
Small fire reported within an office involving an electrical storage heater, fire spread was limited to item first ignited. Due to insufficient heat from the fire, the sprinkler head located in the room of origin of the fire did not activate. The fire was out on arrival with no firefighting media required.
8. Lambeth Student Halls of residence
Small fire within a bedroom confined to an item of electrical equipment as part of the building structure. A small amount of damage occurred, due to insufficient heat from the fire, the sprinkler head located in the room of origin of the fire did not activate.
9. Croydon Specialised housing
Fire crews were mobilised to a kitchen fire, no sprinkler heads actuated due to the size of the fire involving a microwave oven no firefighting was required.
Observations, comments
The two reported sprinkler activations within the residential tall buildings provides further evidence that the main functional objectives of a life safety sprinkler system were achieved
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
Sources/further reading.
Further details on speccific sprinkler activations within the Greater London are available to view on the sprinkler saves main website
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.