Nottinghamshire Tall Building Student Accommodation Activation

Credit image Nationwide Fire Sprinklers

Introduction

Our thanks to both Nottinghamshire Fire Rescue Service (NFRS) and Nationwide Fire Sprinklers for reporting a fire involving an incense candle within a student accommodation tall building which was successfully contained within a cluster flat by the activation of 1 concealed sprinkler head with no injuries reported.

The details of this activation provides further evidence of the reliability and effectiveness of sprinkler systems and adds 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.

If it was not for the amendments to sprinkler provisions within Approved Document B (ADB) for a reduction in the height threshold for sprinklers in purpose group 1a (residential block of flats) from 30m to 11m introduced in 2020, the outcome of this incident could have been so different if sprinklers had not been fitted.

A fire that spread through the Cube high-rise student accommodation in 2019 is a reminder that our new 11m sprinkler threshold for high rise residential buildings does not apply to student accommodation regardless of height.

During the building process, the decision was made by the developer to change the use, occupancy of the of the building to purpose group 2b, halls of residence which benefitted from the previous decision for the installation of a residential sprinkler system to comply with building regulations.

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.

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 Incident

• Date of incident; September 2024.
• Time of call; 10:28.
• Time of stop; 11:53.
• Incident Closed 14:53.
• Incident; Fire.
• Address; Nottinghamshire.
• Location of fire; bedroom within cluster flat.
• AFSS; BS9251:2021.
• Impact of AFSS; Contained/controlled.
• Number of sprinkler heads operated; 1.
• Fire Rescue Service; Nottinghamshire Fire Rescue Service.

The premises

• Ground floor plus 5 floors, purpose-built student accommodation building containing cluster flats accommodating up to 60 residents.

Summary of Incident

• Fire crews were mobilised to reports of a confirmed fire.
• The seat of the fire was identified to be within a cluster flat bedroom.
• Cause of ignition, lit incense candle.
• Unknown to the tenant embers from the stubbed-out candle were blown on to clothes within a washing basket which caught light.
• The tenant who was in the flat at the time was unaware of the fire until the bedroom door containing the seat of the fire was opened.
• The sprinkler system activated containing/controlling the fire allowing tenable conditions allowing the tenant to make their way to a final place of safety.
• Minimal Firefighting media was required by the Fire Rescue Service (FRS) to extinguish the fire
• 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 other emergency incidents.
• The system was reinstated within 60 minutes from the time the sprinkler contractor received the call to attend the incident.

The images clearly identify the benefits of installing a residential sprinkler system

 Credit Nationwide fire sprinklers                                    Credit NFRS                                                           Credit NFRS

       1x RFC 49 Concealed Sprinkler Head activated

Credit Nationwide fire sprinklers

Sprinkler System

• BS9251:2021
• Category 3
• Water supply Dedicated pump and tank
• Isolation valves located on each floor
• Coverage Flats and common ways

Group Manager Jonathan Holford Head of Fire Protection –

“Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service supported the 2020 changes to Approved Document B requiring sprinklers to be installed in all residential buildings over 11m. The benefits of these changes were seen at a recent incident in a medium rise residential building in Nottingham.A small accidental fire was contained to the room of origin allowing our crew to extinguish the fire with minimal equipment. This reduced the hazard to our Firefighters whilst also creating a significantly safer environment for occupants to evacuate promptly. NFRS also welcome the publicised changes to ADB coming into force on 2^nd March 2025 requiring sprinklers to be installed in all new care homes.”

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 5
• ¹Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom: An Analysis from Fire Service data 
• NFRS AFSS Position Statement
• BS5306-0
• BS9251;2021

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.