Nottinghamshire Student Accommodation Kitchen Activation

Introduction

This the second successful reported student accommodation sprinkler activation reported by Nottingham Fire and Rescues Service (NFRS) within a 3-month period, on both occasions the fire was either contained/controlled or extinguished by the activation of 1 sprinkler head with no injuries reported.

Demonstrating the vital role sprinklers play in fire safety arrangements by highlighting real tangible examples of where they have actuated and in doing so saved life and protected property. Providing further evidence of the reliability and effectiveness of sprinkler systems adding further weight to the recent report conducted by ¹Optimal Economics, 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 report found that:
Sprinklers are 99% efficient in extinguishing or controlling a fire.
Sprinklers are 94% efficient in their ability to operate.

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. Demonstrated on this occasion by the students lack urgency, understanding of the premises emergency plan (simultaneous evacuation) on the actions that should be taken in the event of the premises fire alarm actuating resulting in a considerable delay evacuating the building.

If it was not for the proactive approach of the landlord to install sprinklers within their property portfolio, we could be discussing a totally different outcome following this fire. It should be remembered that the recent amendments to sprinkler provisions within Approved Document B for a reduction in the height threshold for sprinklers in purpose group 1a (residential block of flats) from 30m to 11m disappointingly this does not include student accommodation.

England’s national building and fire safety regulations trial behind its neighbours, governments in other UK jurisdictions who have set lower mandatory thresholds for the installation of sprinklers in new purpose-built student accommodation. Following the introduction of new fire regulations within Northern Ireland, fire sprinklers are now required in within student accommodation with a storey more than 11m above ground level which will come into effect on 6 May 2025.

It is the view of British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (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. The Government should be looking to emulate the policies in the devolved governments to support unitary policy across nations by lowering or removing the acceptable height, floor area, or occupancy threshold dependent on building type.

This incident provides further evidence that the operation of a correctly designed and installed residential sprinkler system installed, maintained in accordance with the appropriate codes and standards reduces the rate of production of heat and smoke, allowing more time for the occupants to escape to safety or be rescued.

The premises

• Ground floor plus 3 and basement, office block converted into student accommodation.

 The Incident

• Date of incident; 28 October 2024.
• Time of call; 20:48.
• Time of stop; 21:29
• Incident closed 22:01.
• Incident; Fire.
• Address; Nottinghamshire.
• Location of fire; Kitchen flat
• AFSS; BS9251:2014
• Impact of AFSS; Extinguished
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.
• Fire Rescue Service; Nottinghamshire Fire Rescue Service.

Summary of Incident

• Fire crews were mobilised to reports of a confirmed fire.
• The seat of the fire was identified to be within a flat involving an electrical cooking extractor hood.
• The fire was extinguished by the activation of the sprinkler system in the room of origin before the arrival of operational crews.
• Superficial fire, heat, and smoke damage sustained within the room of origin

• Major protracted incident everted allowing FRS resources to be released, redeployed to attend emergency incidents.

The images below are taken from the previous fire reported by NFRS involving student accommodation which was successfully contained/controlled by the activation of 1 sprinkler head within a bedroom, identifying the benefits of installing a residential sprinkler system

 Credit Nationwide fire sprinklers                             Credit NFRS                                                                     Credit NFRS

The danger of student accommodation fires cannot be underestimated clearly demonstrated following the fire in Bolton involving the premises known as the ‘Cube’ November 2019. The speed with which the fire took hold and the devastating impact it had on the building was shocking. The Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service (GMFRS) press release states that due to the full and immediate evacuation of the premises many lives were saved.

Full details on the incident are contained in the GMFRS Cube Incident Report (click the link in the resources section, sprinklers were not fitted.

Sprinkler System

• BS9251:2014
• Category 2, 30 min run time
• Water supply boosted cold water mains fed sprinkler system.
• Installed Sprinkler Heads: RFC 49 74c
• Alarm: Link to fire alarm panel
• Supply Details: Lowara 5SV07 pump set fed by a 32mm mains water supply

The following advice is intended for building managers, individuals who have responsibility for fire safety within a building

Premises Emergency Plan

The problem, post fire sprinkler activations reported where buildings have been identified as affected by water egress following the successful activation of the sprinkler system containing, controlling or in some cases extinguishing the fire, predominately due to.

• Poor business continuity management, inadequate onsite emergency planning by the building manager or responsible person for the fire safety arrangements within a building.
• Allowing onsite information to be available for firefighters to interact with the building active fire safety measures namely automatic water fire suppression systems.

There is now a high probability that firefighters will attend a variety of incidents where sprinklers systems are reported as present and having an impact within these types of buildings.

The provision of a robust emergency plan will allow an immediate emergency response to be actioned by the fire rescue service to assist in the management of water from the activation of the sprinkler system following a fire or even following the unlikely likelihood of un-intentional release of water, due to the knock-on effect this can have on a business or occupancy

Debunking the myth that water damage following the actuation of the sprinkler system will be more expensive than the actual damage resulting from the fire.

Reinstatement of the Fire Protection Measures

• It is paramount that fire protection measures in buildings can function effectively in the event of a fire. To achieve this the premises emergency plan should include that arrangements are in place allowing the immediate reinstatement of the sprinkler system.
• It is a requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order for the responsible person to implement the appropriate arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring of the preventive and protective measures.
• 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.
• The system was reinstated within 60 minutes from the time the sprinkler contractor received the call to attend the incident.

Conclusion

This incident provides further evidence that the main functional objectives of a life safety sprinkler system were achieved

• The occupants were able to leave the building in reasonable safety
• Firefighters can operate without due risk to

1. Assist evacuation when necessary
2. Effect rescue when necessary

• Prevent conflagration

Sources/further reading. 

• Sprinkler Saves Review 2023/2024
• Sprinkler Saves Summer Update No 6
• ¹Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom: An Analysis from Fire Service data 
• NFRS AFSS Position Statement
• September Nottingham Student accommodation fire
• Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Cube Fire Report
• NFCC AWSS Policy Statement

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.