Since 1945, no one in the UK has died as a result of a fire in a building with an operational sprinkler system.
This one fact alone should make the clearest possible case for sprinkler installation in all multi-occupancy residential settings – but we know that knowledge and the direct application of that knowledge are two very different things in a real-world context.
On 2 March, sprinklers became mandatory in all new care homes in England, irrespective of height – following the amendment of Approved Document B of the building regulations. The National Fire Chiefs Council welcomed this intervention but continue to lobby government to extend this mandate to cover a greater range of residential settings in recognition of the profound safety impact that sprinklers have in preserving life and reducing damage to buildings and contents.
In our 24/7 news cycles, it’s actually the effectiveness of sprinkler systems that often keep their true safety impact out of the public consciousness. A rare recent example from a fire at a student accommodation block at the University of Bournemouth shows how the efficacy of operational sprinkler systems is a clear life-saver, but makes for relatively low key news coverage.
‘When the fire service arrived at the scene, the building had been evacuated and on further investigation, the crews discovered there had been a fire in a kitchen on the first floor of the building which was already extinguished by the activation of the sprinkler system.’
The insurance sector is also on board when it comes to the risk mitigation characteristics of sprinklers – with fully operational and regularly maintained systems recognised as key factors in determining whether cover can be granted and the rate at which premiums are set. Losses from fires in buildings equipped with sprinklers are 1/10th of those in unprotected buildings.
The body of evidence setting out the case for sprinkler installations couldn’t be clearer, but unambiguous information is a powerful tool in the pursuit of more widespread adoption across the UK. Here are some of the most common points we address with clients ahead of embarking on the adoption of sprinkler systems across their residential portfolios:-
Operationally
- It is only the sprinkler heads in closest proximity to the heat of a fire that will activate during an incident – the entire building’s sprinkler system will not be activated for a localised event
- In terms of water damage – sprinklers fight the source of a fire quickly and so overall less water is needed than if firefighters need to intervene with their hoses. A typical sprinkler discharges water at 55 litres per minute, while a firefighting hose discharges water at over 600 litres per minute
Harmony Fire Specialist Capabilities
- As a leading expert in both active and passive fire protection solutions, Harmony Fire maintains a ‘golden thread’ of information from design inception, through to installation and beyond to system maintenance. This golden thread of information is a vital component of the new building safety legislation regime
- Harmony Fire works exclusively in the residential sector with an In-House Design Team of experts providing significant programme efficiencies across technical submittals and approvals
- Harmony Fire’s in-house multi-disciplinary teams facilitate swift mobilisation through efficient departmental collaboration and a constant focus on iterative learning to benefit customers
- Our smart installation methodology is ideally suited to situations where access issues are identified. This programmed pragmatism facilitates continuity within the block, with the flexibility to maximise access opportunities in a dynamic resident environment. This reduces impact to programme and provides greater resident satisfaction.
- Effective resident liaison and communication programmes are a core element of the Harmony Fire service – enhancing site mobilisation, protecting the reputation of our customers and fostering strong and mutually beneficial resident relationships
- A forensic approach to on-site planning and close collaboration with operations teams identifies the individual risk profile of every installation, enabling the development of early-stage mitigation plans for issues including:-
- Fire door heads – a challenging, yet common issue planning pipe routes within communal areas and the impact on door head entry that demands a fully compliant and cost-effective solution
- Expert guidance from Harmony Fire’s sister door manufacturing business helps mitigate these common challenges to ensure fully compliant compartmentation
- Core drilling – an integrated delivery team model and expertise operating across high rise residential buildings gives a unique capability to mitigate the impact and disruption of core drilling, while maintaining full compliance throughout this process
- Fire stopping is an integral element of our solution and is installed and certified by Harmony Fire and not by a separate third-party contractor. This reduces the risk of compartmentation issues throughout the duration of the programme and maintains the integrity of the golden thread of information
- Harmony Fire is NICEIC certified and issues certificates for all electrical installations in-house – again maintaining the golden thread
