Fires at industrial premises highlight case for sprinkler protection

A fire on 5 November at an industrial building in Ramsgate required six fire crews and a bulk water carrier to bring under control. The site, home to plastics manufacturer Flambeau Europe, had already faced significant disruption earlier this year following a break-in that damaged power supplies and temporarily halted production.

The previous day, ten fire engines and 70 firefighters worked through the night to contain a major industrial fire in Greenwich. The fire at Vetraland Timber Merchants led to local road and tunnel closures as well as smoke warnings.

At the same time in Northern Ireland, a late-night blaze at a recycling facility in Belfast required more than 50 firefighters who were supported by eight appliances, an aerial platform, a water tanker and a command support unit. The incident involved a large amount of scrap metal and caused significant disruption.

Recent statistics

Across the last decade in England, industrial premises have been the setting for 19,761 primary fires, resulting in 1,071 casualties and 23 fatalities. This is the highest number of fatalities outside of residential settings, thereby underlining the vulnerability of these buildings and those within them.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the incidents mentioned. However, the scale of the response for the three fires was significant. These fires required the mobilisation of more than 150 firefighters and the deployment of extensive fire control assets. Industrial activity was halted, leading to disruption. While the Ramsgate site covered around 12,000 m², the fire was contained to approximately 2,000 m². Despite this, all three affected sites sustained serious damage. These events are a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to invest in proven fire protection systems.

Containing a fire at its earliest stage is the best way in which to limit damage and minimise costs as week as impacts. Sprinklers have been proven to contain, control or extinguish fires in 99% of cases when caused to operate. This rapid intervention allows the affected business to resume operations within hours, avoiding the wider economic and social costs.

Enormous strain

“Time and time again, we are seeing the enormous strain that industrial fires place on both businesses and the Emergency Services,” said Tom Roche, secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance. “These incidents don’t just destroy property and livelihoods. They tie-up life-saving resources for hours, cause environmental harm and disrupt communities. What’s particularly concerning is that many larger facilities are being bult today, with similar fire risks, but without sprinklers being fed into the design.”

These fires mirror a growing pattern across the UK where industrial and commercial premises, often packed with combustible materials or high-value machinery, lack even basic fire suppression systems.

By contrast, incidents in sprinkler-protected buildings tend to be quickly contained or extinguished before the fire can escalate. This limits damage, preserves business continuity and drastically reduces the strain on fire crews.

In the absence of sprinklers, every second counts. Every fire has the potential to become a major incident. As these three November fires show, the consequences go far beyond the building itself. Fires in unsprinklered buildings continue to use considerable resources and still pose a serious threat to business resilience, jobs and public safety.

*Further information is available online at www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org