The fire risk posed by the use of emollient creams in the home were highlighted by a recent sprinkler save at a purpose built block of flats in Devon.
The resident has accidently allowed a lit cigarette to come into contact with a bathroom towel that had a flammable emollient product on causing it to ignite.
Luckily for the resident the landlord had taken the decision to retrofit sprinklers in the flat and the fire was extinguished quickly by the activation of one sidewall sprinkler head in the bathroom and fire and rescue teams attending reported minimal damage to the area.
Scientific testing shows that fabric burns quicker and hotter when contaminated with emollients. Cambridge Fire and Rescue Service, in conjunction with Anglia Ruskin University conducted an experiment to show the effects emollient creams on ignition rates
The following video experiment shows just how flammable materials with emollient residue on them are and how much hotter they cause fires to burn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxPg7bx8DUk
Thank you Devon & Somerset FRS for reporting this incident to BAFSA’s Sprinkler Saves website. Each reported save helps us build a body of evidence of Sprinklers protecting lives, property and the environment.
