Download PDF version

Kitchens are the seat of more fires than any other location in purpose-built blocks of flats, according to statistics from BAFSA’s Incident Data Report No 3.

And the image, shared by Triangle Fire Systems, from an incident on June 25, at a residential block of flats in Birmingham shows the benefits of having sprinklers installed in these types of premises. Not only was the fire contained and controlled, smoke damage was limited to one area, reducing the impact on the resident’s ability to be back up and running.

Residential sprinkler system

In this case, Triangle Fire Systems were called to reinstate the residential sprinkler system the day after the fire on the 11th floor of this block of flats.

Triangle Fire Systems were called to reinstate the residential sprinkler system the day after the fire 

Following the activation of one sidewall sprinkler head (VK480), the system was back online within 45 minutes of their arrival. Nick Coleshill, BAFSA’s sprinkler ambassador, says: “Birmingham Council should be applauded for their continued commitment to providing its residents with the highest level of fire safety by retrofitting sprinklers in all their high-rise residential block of flats.”

Social housing providers

Sadly this is not the case elsewhere in the country. A recent report in Inside Housing magazine found that out of 37 large social housing providers in England and the 1,768 of high-rise residential buildings they manage, only 334 (18.9%) had been fitted with sprinklers, and over half of these were fitted in one local authority (Birmingham).

BAFSA chief executive, Ali Perry, recently commented in the fire industry press on how he found the lack of progress in regard to retrofitting sprinklers in high-risk buildings ‘hard to believe’.

Download PDF version Download PDF version

In case you missed it

The Technologies Of Smart Cities: Their Impact On The Fire Service
The Technologies Of Smart Cities: Their Impact On The Fire Service

To be a smart city, modern urban areas leverage technology to improve operations and services, in effect deploying a network of sensors and devices to collect data on city operatio...

Is Outdated Technology Crippling The Fire Safety And Security Sector?
Is Outdated Technology Crippling The Fire Safety And Security Sector?

In the challenging world of fire safety and security services, organizations are constantly juggling the need to maintain high efficiency with the relentless push for technological...

Rosenbauer Karlsruhe: New Welcome Center In Germany
Rosenbauer Karlsruhe: New Welcome Center In Germany

The new Welcome Center of Rosenbauer Karlsruhe in Germany can already be seen from far away in the city and from the busy highway that runs through Karlsruhe. At night, the strikin...

vfd