Sprinkler News
School Sprinkler Stop Saves Animals
Tyne and Wear F&RS have reported a sprinkler activation that took place on 28 January January 2012
An electric heat lamp in the Animal Care Classroom of Walbottle Campus, Newcastle upon Tyne malfunctioned and caused a fire at 11:13 on Saturday morning. The school's sports facilities were in use at the time with 200+ persons on site.
The three storey (10,300m²) secondary school is a newly built Newcastle City Council PFI facility, with an on-site manager employed by Aura. The fire was detected by the AFD system and a single sprinkler head in the room of origin activate which extinguished the fire.
A number of small animals (guinea pigs, gerbils, tortoise and tarantula spiders) were present in the room of origin and all survived whilst no other areas of the school were affected.
Fire-fighting action involved two appliances with eight personnel, two BA wearers entered the building for smoke clearance using positive pressure ventilation, and salvage duties were also carried out including caring for the animals.
The impact of the fire was restricted to a wooden bench and minor smoke damage to the room involved. This amounted to less than 1% of the whole building.
The school opened as normal on Monday 30 January 2012 and it is estimated that the damage to the room will be repaired within 7 days.
BAFSA Comments: This is a very good example of the value of a sprinkler system in improving tenability in a fire compartment. The survival of the animals demonstrates that sprinklers can successfully protect the lives of occupants who are unable to evacuate. The lack of fire spread and minimal impact on the school mission also show how valuable sprinklers are.
Posted on: Friday 3 February 2012
CLG Proposals for Building Regulations Include Removing Local Building Acts
Proposed revocation of the Local Acts.
This is detailed from page 35 in the attached document.
Aside from the fact that the Government is proposing to repeal the fire safety provisions of the Local Acts (as anticipated), the text offers comments which give the Government’s (very unsatisfactory) view on the BSA/Bureau Veritas report on the environmental costs of fires in warehouses and also an indication as to how the Government will respond to the economic parts of the BSA/BRE report on the cost/benefits of warehouse sprinklers when it is published. For example:
“It was also suggested that Local Act provisions also contributed to reducing financial losses from fires. However, the Department does not consider this to be an appropriate objective for regulation as the management of business risks is a matter for the business community and their insurers.”
“Large fires do result in the release of carbon dioxide and other damaging substances into the environment, but any environmental benefits from enhanced fire protection need to be balanced against the environmental damage of costs of manufacturing and installing fire protection systems. Recently published research by the Business Sprinkler Alliance has suggested that enhanced fire protection in some large warehouse buildings could bring an overall environmental benefit. Whilst this may well be true, this is not considered sufficient to justify retaining these provisions”
This is a consultation document with views sought before the end of April. BAFSA and its friends in the Sprinkler Co-ordination Group will, of course, comment again. In so doing we will argue more forcibly the environmental benefits – this may come out of the BRE report, and try to counter the repeat of the tired cliche that “management of business risks is a matter for the business community and their insurers”.
BAFSA Members should feel free to respond directly to CLG - we would appreciate copies of responses.
Posted on: Thursday 2 February 2012
Callow Mount Project is Major Attraction at Firex South
Firex South returns to Sandown Park 13-14 March 2012.
BAFSA Callow Mount Sprinkler Retrofit features in the conference programme (see attached flyer)
If you want to source cost-effective products and improve your fire safety knowledge in 2012, Firex South is the event for you.
Aimed at professionals from London and the South East, Firex South lets you speak with leading manufacturers and compare new solutions in just a couple of hours.
Firex South is now nine weeks away register today for FREE entry.
Why you should attend:
Whether you install, manufacture or distribute fire safety products, Firex South has the companies and products that you need to see.
Confirmed exhibitors include Apollo Fire Detectors, C-Tec, EMS Radio Fire & Security, Electro Detectors, Stirling Safety, LPCB, SSAIB, NSI, STI Europe and Fire Fighting Enterprises. Take a look at the exhibitor list.
There's also a FREE educational programme that you can benefit from thanks to the info4fire.com Learning Zone.
In addition to a one-day workshop on fire safety in housing, confirmed seminar sessions include The application of wire-free detection and alarm solutions in small and medium-size buidlings, Photoluminescent sign standards, and more.
What's more, parking at the venue is completely FREE you can register via this link: www1.registerbynet.com/Shows/fxs12/Login ... ode=fxs12&source=vdt2
Posted on: Friday 27 January 2012
Highly Successful Domestic Sprinkler Demonstration
Congratulations are due to BAFSA member Nationwide Sprinklers for organising a most successful event in conjunction with Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service.
The feedback from those who attended, including Nick Ross, has been uniformly positive and excellent local media coverage has resulted.
Full details at: www.nationwidefiresprinklers.co.uk/sprinkler-demonstration.htm
Posted on: Wednesday 25 January 2012
BS 9251 Training
BAFSA Member XACT Training is running courses in Birmingham on the design and installation of BS 9251 as follows:
Installation 30-31 January 2012
Design 1-2 February 2012
Full information and bookings etc from:
Trevor Norwood
Business Development Manager
Xact Training
T: 01386 277980
F: 0845 0941 887
trevor.norwood@xact.org.uk
www.xact.org.uk
Posted on: Tuesday 24 January 2012
IFE Scotland Sprinkler Seminar
BAFSA is pleased to be one of the sponsors of an IFE Scotland Sprinkler Seminar to be held in Stirling on 21 February 2012.
Attendance is at no cost and BAFSA members are most welcome to attend.
Full details below.
Posted on: Friday 20 January 2012
BSi Fire Safety Conference 2012
Conference Agenda - 6 March 2012
9:30 – 9:40 Chairman’s Introduction
David Smith , Chairman, BSI Committee, FSH/14 (Fire precautions in buildings)
Keynote
9:40 - 9:55 The latest Government update on Fire Safety Regulation and Fire Rescue Service
Bob Neill, Fire Minister
9:55 - 10:20 Fire safety and enforcement issues
General policy and principles
Consistency of approach
Enforcement action
Iain Cox, Chief Fire Officer, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service
How standards can help
10:20 - 10:45 BS 9999 Revision
Who is using BS 9999 and how is it being used?
Why the is a need to revise the standard?
Where are we now?
David Smith, Chairman, BSI Committee, FSH/14 (Fire precautions in buildings)
10:45 – 11:10 BS 99991 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings – Code of practice
Scope and development
Applicability
Practical implications
11:10 – 11:20 Questions and answers
11:20 – 11:40 Tea and coffee
11:40 – 12:05 BS 6266:2011 Code of practice for fire protection for electronic equipment installations
Principal changes
Risk categories
Reinstatement of detection performance tests
Strategic implications
Peter Massingberd-Mundy, Technology & Expert Practices Manager, Xtralis
Passive Fire Protection – Risk assessment
12:05 – 12:30 ASFP Guide to inspecting Passive Fire Protection for Fire Risk Assessors
Common sense approach
Using the document
Liabilities of Responsible Person
Nial Rowan, Technical Officer, Association for Specialist Fire Protection
12:30 – 12:50 Case Study: Risk assessment in practice
Arnold Tarling, Associate DirectorHindwoods
12:50 – 13:00 Questions and answers
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 14:20 Table discussion – Defining a competent assessor?
Fire safety products
14:20 – 14:45 CE marking and passive fire protection products
European Classification
End use application
Fire resistance test – test methodology?
What is happening currently?
What will happen in the future?
Dr Debbie Smith, Director of Fire Sciences, BRE Global
14:45 – 14:50 Questions and answers
14:50 – 15:15 Tea and coffee
15:15 – 15:35 Case Study - Smoke alarms
15:35 – 15:55 Case Study - A practical and cost effective option for existing high rise social housing
Hazards associated with high rise social housing utilising case studies
Review of relevant legislation and guidance
Background and description of pilot project to retrofit sprinklers to a high rise block in Sheffield
Identifying potential for sprinklers to be installed to existing high rise housing
Steve Seaber OBE, Project Manager, High Rise Retrofit Pilot Project, BAFSA
15:55 – 16:05 Questions and answers
16:05 – 16:25 Innovative fire design strategies
Andy Passingham, Global Director of Fire Engineering, Buro Happold
16:25 – 16:50 Are insurance requirements preventing innovative fire engineering?
Rob Dakin, Risk Control Manager, Property AXA Insurance UK plc
16:50 – 17:00 Questions and answers
17:00 Chairmans closing remarks
Booking details on attached link - discounts available for BAFSA members
Posted on: Friday 13 January 2012
Former Lord Mayor Receives Suspended Sentence for Breaches of FSO
Business owners across the county are being advised to pay attention to their legal obligations to keep staff, customers and premises safe from fire, after a Nottingham businessman was convicted for breaches of fire safety legislation at his factory premises.
Mr Mohammed Munir, a former Lord Mayor in the City of Nottingham, was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years, and ordered to undertake 180 hours unpaid work and to pay £4,000 in costs by Nottingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to a series of breaches of Fire Safety requirements at Trent Valley Trading in Wigman Road.
Sentencing Mr Munir, His Honour Judge Lea said that the court could not put too higher price on life and that he had put the needs of the business over employee safety. Many of the measures, he said, were inexpensive.
The Defence conceded that the offences would justify a custodial sentence. The Judge said he had been minded to impose a nine month sentence but, in light of the particular mitigation, he reduced it and suspended it.
Following concerns by operational fire crews, Fire Protection Officers from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) visited the premises and identified a number of areas which required rectifying; these were so serious that an Enforcement Notice was issued.
Officers visited the premises on subsequent occasions to assess progress and advise Mr Munir on achieving a satisfactory standard of Fire Safety to protect his employees in the event of a fire. They agreed to allow Mr Munir additional time to comply with the Enforcement Notice.
Mr Munir was prosecuted when it became apparent that he had ignored the deadline and continued to trade without ensuring that his premises were safe.
Details of specific charges below:
Posted on: Friday 6 January 2012
Sprinklers Control Arson Fire Set by Burglars: Wellingborough 28 December 2011
At 09:30 on 28th December 2011, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to a sprinkler activation at a 2 storey, 2500m² multi-occupied premises in Wellingborough.
Northamptonshire F&RS said that there were a number of seats of fire, indicating deliberate ignition, and it was believed the fire was started following a burglary over the Christmas break.
About 20% of the room of origin was affected by the fires but only one seat of fire, caused by paper being ignited beneath a table, caused the sprinklers to operate. Because of the shielded nature of the fire it is estimated that it took about 15 minutes for the sprinkler system to bring the fire under control. The value of assets in the room of origin were understood to be about £4k.
The system was retained in operational condition, having been installed for a previous occupancy and no fire-fighting action was required by the fire service, who deployed a total of seven personnel to the incident.
Posted on: Friday 6 January 2012
Sprinkler Stop, Flooring Products, Cheddleton, Staffs
About 90 workers were evacuated after a fire broke out at premises occupied by F.Ball, Station Road, Cheddleton on 9 December at around 8.30am.
Staffs F&RS report that the sprinklers operated and quickly confined the fire and enabled firefighters to gain access to the location of the fire swiftly. It also allowed all of the staff in the building at the time to safely evacuate. The activation of the sprinklers allowed resounding firefighters to quickly bring the fire under control and allow the majority of the staff at F Ball to resume work.
Posted on: Friday 16 December 2011