Suppressing risks

AN OUTBREAK of fire always presents an especially serious threat to both life and property and wherever members of the public congregate in large numbers there is always greater risk. Examples of this can regularly be found in many of our high street stores and out of town shopping centres.

In today’s enclosed shopping malls, department stores, large supermarkets and shops, vast quantities of combustible goods and packaging may be found. and many of these materials will be of plastic or foam, which can produce dangerous quantities of heat and toxic smoke in a fire.

Indeed, the modern trend to “stack-em-high” creates ideal conditions for any unwanted fire to grow and spread rapidly throughout a building. The fact that many retail premises will also have escape routes unfamiliar to the range of people likely to be found shopping there adds to this hazardous mix.

Following a number of serious fires in retail premises, culminating in February 1996 in the tragic death of a female firefighter, Fleur Lombard QGM, many chief fire officers, officials of the Fire Brigade’s Union (FBU) and others, voiced their concerns about the hazards posed by large retail premises and advocated the installation of fire sprinklers. 

The simplest way of providing protection for retail occupancies and the people who might be there is by rapid application of water, at the earliest possible stage of a fire, by an automatic fire sprinkler system. Water as a firefighting agent offers many advantages; it is readily available, inexpensive and can be directed to the seat of a fire with immediate effect. Water is also chemically inert and does not present an environmental hazard.  

Building regulations

Guidance to the Building Regulations for England and Wales (Approved Document B) has a specific requirement to install sprinklers in single-storey non-compartmented retail outlets with a floor area exceeding 2,000m². Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own building standards which make similar recommendations.

More recently the Fire Sector Federation has issued guidance to those involved in carrying out alterations and extensions to retail premises; emphasising the need to assess the risks properly and consider installing sprinklers - even where the floor area might be smaller than the 2,000m² threshold.   

Automatic sprinklers are the only fire protection system which will protect property, contents and developers’ investments as well as, and more importantly, people. They are also an effective way to protect the environment can be protected from the effects of large fires and damaging interruptions to businesses and local communities. 

All fire sprinkler systems detect fires the sprinkler heads are equivalent to heat detectors in the fire alarm standard BS 5839-1 and those installed in commercial buildings are provided with a local mechanical alarm, which will operate even if there is no electrical power available. However, sprinkler systems can easily be provided with a remote signalling facility. This will advise an alarm receiving centre that the sprinkler system is actually operating.

Case study – Sprinklers kill fires

THE SCOTTISH Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 1:54am on 27 September 2017 regarding a reported fire at the TK Maxx store in Paisley. Two pumps, an aerial appliance and a salvage unit attended. On arrival it was noted that there was a secondary fire adjacent to a roller shutter door at the store which in turn had ignited cladding on the two-storey, 2150m² terraced building. 

The fire penetrated to the first floor internal area where two heads on the OH3, mains fed sprinkler installation activated within the first floor ceiling void. Fire and rescue service crews used one hose-reel jet and the fire was extinguished in 12 minutes leaving fire damage of between 10- 15m².

Business interruption and costs were estimated at five hours and £20k respectively. Activation of the sprinkler system probably prevented further significant property loss.

Effectiveness of sprinklers

Research conducted by Optimal Economics of Edinburgh for the National Fire Chief’s Council and the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) revealed that in non-residential building the average number of sprinkler heads that operate in real fire situations is less than four heads and that the ‘performance effectiveness’ and ‘operational reliability’ was assessed at being 99% and 94% respectively.

This increasing confidence is encouraging the regulatory authorities to recognise the enhanced level of safety provided by sprinklers; as a result, when major projects are at design stage the inclusion of sprinklers will permit alternative approaches to complying with the Building Regulations and can sometimes allow a degree of flexibility in design for both large and small premises alike.

Many fire and rescue services ‘call challenging’ policies now appreciate the general lack of false calls being made by sprinklers and will respond with an appliance and crew to a known sprinkler activation.    

Always select a contractor who is not only capable and competent but who also can offer proof of compliance with an established quality assurance system. For example, all Installer members of BAFSA (commercial and industrial systems) can provide documentary proof of compliance with international quality assurance standards and also hold an approval (Registration or Certification) from a third-party certification service which itself is accredited by a Government –approved body, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

Where sprinklers are installed for life safety, there is a need to ensure that the systems including water supplies are always reliable and must be maintained. Zoning systems means that segments of a sprinkler installation can be isolated for maintenance while the remainder of the system is kept operational. 

Wet systems

Normally ‘wet’ systems, where the supply pipes are always filled with water, are specified for retail premises and where a fast response is considered necessary. These systems simple to maintain and invariably the most effective. Pipework can be steel or CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) which is approved for the purpose. If water pressure and flows are adequate then it is possible that the sprinkler system can be connected (subject to the approval of the water supplier) directly to the service main. However, where water supplies are insufficient, storage tanks and pumps may be required and these can be sourced from a number of BAFSA members who manufacture listed equipment.

Sprinklers save lives, safeguard property and investments, prevent firefighter deaths and protect the environment.

Keith MacGillivray MBE is chief executive of The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA). For more information, visit www.bafsa.org.uk

Free CPD seminar on protecting buildings with sprinklers

Stewart Kidd will speak on behalf of BAFSA at Fire Safety Event on 12 April at 9am at NEC Birmingham as part of a breakfast briefing on protecting buildings with sprinklers. It's free to attend the breakfast briefing and all delegates will get the chance to network while enjoying a bacon roll and refreshments. You can register for FREE at www.firesafetyevents.com

Reference

¹ Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom: An analysis from fire service data.