‘When a Fire Breaks Out, Who Really Knows the System?’

In more than one case, fire crews arrived to face a bank of valves, switches and levers: all vital for managing the fire protection systems in the building. The problem? No-one could immediately tell the firefighters which valves fed what.

After such incidents, it’s equally hard to determine how to isolate or reinstate the system safely. In that moment, we expect firefighters to be instant experts with an ability to decipher a complex and bespoke system under intense pressure and with no margin for error.

It reminded me of the airline safety briefing. You know the one: the one we glibly ignore as we’ve heard it all before. The difference is that, on a plane, the systems are largely standardised with similar set-ups. There’s also the well-trained air cabin crew to guide us if anything goes wrong.

In the built environment, every building can be wildly different, with their own unfamiliar controls, hidden valves and unlabelled systems. When fire strikes, there may not be anyone to guide the attending firefighters. These differences matter.

Seconds count

Who assists firefighters when they arrive on scene? Is a laminated plan in a wall-mounted box really enough? Are the key controls including the valves, pumps and utility isolations clearly marked and easy to understand?

If a sprinkler system needs to be shut down after a successful activation, will the Fire and Rescue Service crews know which valve to close? Even more importantly, are the building owners clear on what happens next when the Fire and Rescue Service hands the site back to them?

Many of you may be reading this and thinking about the debates on Secure Information Boxes. However, that debate covers residential settings alone. The same systems and information are needed in a wider range of buildings.

The systems that protect buildings and people are only as effective as our ability to operate them and to bring them back online swiftly post-use. These are not systems to be left to chance. They are fire safety systems and every hour they remain offline increases the risk.

Greater clarity

When it comes to active fire protection like sprinklers, preparation really does prevent poor performance. Building owners, facilities teams and fire safety managers should be asking themselves several key questions:

*If the system operates, can we direct the attending Fire and Rescue Service to that system?

*Have we made it clear where our water supplies and key isolation valves are located?

*Is it clear what systems protect what area?

*Is the system labelling clear and up-to-date?

*Do we know how and who will reinstate the system after a fire event?

*What precautions will be needed while the system is offline?

Planning for the predictable

Firefighters will always do their best in highly challenging situations, but the success of their work can be hugely aided by careful planning and clear direction. The ability to locate, operate and restore fire protection systems quickly can make the difference between an incident and a disaster.

It’s not someone else’s job. The duty to maintain operational fire protection systems resides with the ‘Responsible Person’. That includes understanding what those systems do, how they are controlled and how they are reinstated.

We need to treat the management of fire protection systems with the same respect we afford their installation in every building. Understand them before the emergency. Make sure critical controls are clearly identified. Have a post-incident plan ready for action.

Any building designed for safety should also be designed for clarity. When every second counts, there’s no room for uncertainty.

At the Business Sprinkler Alliance, we continue to advocate for a more informed and resilient approach towards fire safety. Protection isn’t just about installation. It’s also about understanding, maintenance and readiness. The best time to figure out your system is not when the alarms are sounding.

Tom Roche is Secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance (www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org)