Hat’s off to Midlands housing association Wolverhampton Homes for their commitment to fire safety and the protection of their residents.
The housing association had the foresight to install residential fire sprinkler systems in all its properties and last month two sprinkler heads were actuated when a resident’s sofa caught fire due to an unattended lit cigarette.
Funding for the installation of the sprinkler system was from a government Housing Development Scheme – specifically – The HRA ( Housing Revenue Account), which aims to provide support to specialist affordable housing for older people and adults with disabilities or mental health problems.
In this incident, the Category 1 sprinkler system was installed to BS 9251 by BAFSA members – Compco Fire Systems. The incident report states that the fire was controlled and contained to the room of origin with some minor smoke damage to adjacent rooms.
The housing association also have a dedicated sprinkler page on their website which we are pleased to say features one of BAFSA’s own information videos explaining how sprinklers work. The site also mentions an earlier incident at one of their homes where a chip pan caught alight, but again was successfully extinguished by the sprinkler system.
This quote from the resident concerned puts the incident into context.
“Thanks to my sprinklers and working fire alarms, I was kept safe in my flat. You don’t think it will happen to you, but it did, and I’m so thankful my life was saved.” Resident of Boscobel Crescent, Wolverhampton.
For more details on this and other Sprinkler Saves or to report a sprinkler save, visit our dedicated Sprinkler Saves website www.sprinklersaves.co.uk