London Sprinkler Activations March 2023

London Fire Brigade (LFB) have reported the following activations for the month of March 2023 covering a range of building types where Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS) have had an impact containing, controlling, or extinguishing a building fire.

The environmental benefits of sprinklers should not be underestimated they reduce loss, damage to the environment, reducing carbon emissions and reducing the use of water from the the resulting firefighting operations preventing expensive restoration of buildings, replacing expensive equipment and plant

8 reported AFSS activations were reported providing powerful evidence of the ability of sprinklers to protect life and property from fire. Reinforcing the evidence contained within the Fire Sprinklers Greater London Review which focuses on incidents in Greater London where sprinklers were recorded as being present and operated having an impact.

Incident Number 1

• Date of incident; 1 March
• Premises; Residential purpose-built block of flats
• Incident; Fire
• TOC; 11:26
• AFSS; Sprinklers
• Full details can be found clicking the following link

Incident Number 2

• Date of incident; 9 March
• Premises; Restaurant/Café
• Incident; Fire
• Location; Kitchen
• TOC; 19:01
• AFSS; Ansul

Commercial kitchen fire involving a deep pan fat fryer, contained, controlled to the room of origin by the activation of the Ansul suppression system. On arrival the fire was all out with no firefighting required.

Incident Number 3

• Date of incident; 12 March
• Premises; Residential purpose-built block of flats 4-9 stories
• Incident; Fire
• Location; Kitchen
• TOC; 15:19
• AFSS; Watermist

Communal kitchen fire involving a cooker extraction unit which was contained to room of origin following the activation of the residential watermist system.

 Incident Number 4

• Date of incident; 14 March
• Premises; Student Halls of Residence
• Incident; Fire
• Location; Bedroom
• TOC; 13:41
• AFSS; Sprinklers

Bedroom fire contained to room of origin with no firefighting action required following the activation of 1 sprinkler head, the cause of the fire has been recorded as natural occurrence.

 Incident Number 5

• Date of incident; 21 March
• Premises; Recycling plant
• Incident; Fire
• Location; unknown
• TOC; 09:37
• AFSS; Drencher

On arrival crews identified a fire involving combustible material which had been contained, controlled to the room of origin by the activation of the premises drencher system. The fire was extinguished by crews using a main jet.

Incident Number 6

• Date of incident; 21 March 2023
• Premises; Prison
• Incident; Fire
• Location; Unknown
• TOC; 10:49
• AFSS; Water mist

Firefighters were called to a malicious fire which was successfully contained to the room of origin following the activation of the premises watermist system with no further firefighting required.

Incident Number 7

• Date of incident; 27 March 2023
• Premises; Purpose-built block of flats 10 or more stories
• Incident; Fire
• Location; Kitchen
• TOC; 19:08
• AFSS; Sprinklers

On arrival firefighters identified that a kitchen fire had been contained to the room of origin following the activation of 1 sprinkler head with no further firefighting required.

 Incident Number 8

• Date of incident; 28 March 2023
• Premises: Purpose built office
• Incident; Fire
• Location; Powerhouse/Plant Room
• TOC; 20:43
• AFSS; Sprinklers

One sprinkler head activated following a fire involving a appliance which was contained to the room of origin with no further firefighting required

 Further guidance

• BAFSA, Sprinkler Saves Annual Review
• Fire Sprinklers Greater London Review
• London Fire Brigade