Manchester Specialised Housing Complex Sprinkler Save

Scott Harrison, Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service said,

 “It is the position of both the National Fire Chiefs Council and Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service, that sprinklers are an invaluable active fire safety feature that saves lives in the event of a fire, reducing both property damage and the business impact on the premises”. “This incident underscores the effectiveness of residential life safety sprinkler systems in mitigating fire development. In this case, a chip pan fire was controlled, extinguished, providing the occupant with sufficient time to evacuate safely prior to the arrival of the emergency services”.

Summary

Specialised and supporting housing has seen demographic shifts, with people living longer lives. This rise in life expectancy means more residents face mobility issues, reduced sensory abilities, and cognitive challenges, which all heighten both the chances of fire and the risk to individuals during such emergencies.

Reinforced by the study, analysis of national ¹fire 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.

This report details an incident involving a chip pan fire in a flat located within a specialised housing complex. The fire was effectively contained and extinguished by the ²retrofitted sprinkler system. There were no reported injuries, as the resident successfully self-evacuated prior to the arrival of the Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service (GMFRS).

Providing further evidence supporting our long-standing campaign to increase the presence of sprinklers within the built environment by highlighting real life, tangible examples of where Automatic Water Suppression Systems (AWSS) were present and had an impact. As such, each of these stories provides powerful evidence of the ability of AWSS protecting our communities from fire.

Working with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the National Fire Sprinkler Network, and our sprinkler industry colleagues, we gather evidence of these incidents as a valuable tool highlighting the benefits of AWSS providing vital evidence of the reliability and effectiveness of AWSS adding further weight to the report conducted by ²Optimal economics into the performance, reliability and effectiveness of AWSS.

The outcome of which will influence policymakers to implement change, the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, (BAFSA) welcomed the government announcement that as of March 2025, sprinklers are now required in all new care homes within England, which we have been constantly calling for, it remains a concern however that there is still no requirement for the provision of sprinklers to be installed in all new specialised and supported housing.

The incident

• 9 October 2025 at 12:00 Fire crews were mobilised to reports of a fire
• On arrival the incident commander established that.

1. The premises sprinkler system had activated within a self-contained flat on the second floor of the building.
2. 1x resident self- evacuated from the flat prior to the arrival of GMFRS

• Another resident was escorted to safety from a separate flat.
• Upon entering the flat, firefighters located a chip pan fire in the kitchen.
• The incident was effectively controlled by the activation of a single horizontal sidewall sprinkler head, which extinguished the fire and confined it to the room of origin.
• The fire is reported to have been extinguished at 12:11.
• The dwelling sprinkler isolation valve located within the common ways above the flat front door was isolated by firefighters following confirmation from the IC the fire was extinguished.
• The presence of a comprehensive emergency plan enabled the attending sprinkler contractor to restore the building’s sprinkler system within the same afternoon following the fire.
• No injuries were reported.
• Minor water egress was reported to the flat located below the fire requiring the electrics to be isolated.

System, designed and installed to BS9251:2021

• Category 3
• Coverage, individual flats, communal areas
• Dedicated sprinkler pump, full capacity tank
• Floor, individual flat isolation valves monitored/flow switch

Conclusion

This incident reinforces.

• Why, Government should follow the lead of Scotland and Wales requiring the installation of sprinklers in all new specialised housing buildings irrespective of building height. If it was not for the decision by the housing association to ³retrofit a sprinkler system the outcome of this incident could have been so different.
• AWSS play a key role in fire safety by helping minimise fire risks to people, property, firefighters, and the environment as part of a comprehensive safety plan.

Effective advocacy and policy lobbying require the collection of robust supporting evidence. If you have knowledge of a sprinkler incident that may contribute to this initiative, please provide the pertinent details using the sprinkler activation reporting form available at www.sprinklersaves.co.uk.

Credit to GMFRS and Firetech Design Ltd for submitting this incident report to Sprinkler Saves UK, it makes a difference.

References, Sources

^¹Research and analysis: – An in-depth review of fire related fatalities and severe casualties in England 2010/11 to 2018/19.

² the installation of a life safety sprinkler system is intended to reduce heat and smoke, thereby providing occupants with additional time to safely evacuate or be rescued. However, the presence of a sprinkler system does not eliminate the necessity for other practical fire precautions, particularly for individuals who are at above-average risk or who may be unable to self-evacuate in the event of a fire.

^³Optimal Economics Report, 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. The reports found that:

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

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