Newport High Rise Bin Store Sprinkler Save

• Fire Rescue Service; South Wales Fire & Rescue Service
• Date of Incident; 27 January 2022
• Time of incident 22:43
• Location Newport
• Green Wood Tower block
• Occupancy; Residential High-Rise block
• Location of fire; Refuse container located beneath the premises rubbish chute

RSP Fire Sprinkler Systems have reported the above-mentioned incident involving the activation of one sprinkler head which successfully extinguished the fire involving a bin store.

Reinstatement of the system following activation, maintenance is paramount for the safety of the residents a key area that should be considered as part of the consultation process between the sprinkler contractor and client.

For this incident it is noted that arrangements were in place allowing the system to be reinstated within an hour of the activation providing a further layer of safety from fire for the residents.

Southwales Argus reported that a spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue service said: “At approximately 10.43pm on Thursday, January 27, we received reports of a fire in St Julians, Newport.

“Multiple crews attended the scene and used specialist equipment to extinguish the fire.

“The incident concluded at approximately 12.43am.”

Sonia Furzland, Executive Director of Operations at Newport City Homes said: “Our sprinkler system did its job and put the fire out before it could spread.

“Our colleagues who were on site last night, will continue to support South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to investigate the cause of the fire and reduce the risk of this happening again.

“Working on the advice of our partners at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, we installed sprinklers in flats and communal areas in our high rise buildings across the city, including Greenwood.

This is the second reported sprinkler save for Newport involving a bin store, in a high-rise residential block in the space of 6 months. The previous incident took place on the 7 August 2021.

Did you know that fire data on fire incidents in Great Britain where sprinklers were reported for the period of 2018/19 to 2020/21, identify-

• Refuse stores account for the highest number of incidents where sprinklers are recorded as being present in fire incidents in purpose-built blocks of flats with 145 incidents

Dangers of bin store fires: – It should be noted that the outcome of a communal bin store fire can have a dramatic effect on the safety of the residents, specifically where refuse chutes and access hatches can sometimes be found directly opening onto protected corridors, lobbies and stairs, so providing the potential for the spread of fire and smoke to the common escape routes.

It is therefore best practice In these situations :-

1. Automatic fire-resisting shutter should be fitted at the base of the refuse chute to restrict the spread of fire and smoke from a fire in the bin room. The shutter should, as a minimum, be operated on a fixed temperature fusible link.
2. Bespoke sprinkler system, Further protection can be provided by the installation of a sprinkler system located over the bins, with either frangible bulb or fusible link sprinkler heads, or open sprinkler heads with water discharge controlled by smoke detectors. The provision of sprinklers should always be considered where access hatches open into protected stairways or lobbies containing more than two flat entrance doors

Further links

• British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association; Year book 2021/22, Making AFSS the norm, not the exception 
• South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
• Southwales Argus