Sprinklers protect Manchester college from further fire damage

With the new university term just beginning it worth mentioning the vital role that sprinklers play in our educational establishments. Sprinkler Saves has a good example of this and we thank Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service for sharing this information with us.

On 11 March 2026, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) attended a fire at a Greater Manchester college. The incident began during a science lesson when a member of staff detected a burning smell. An investigation found that combustible material had accumulated between laboratory worktops and ignited after being exposed to a nearby lit Bunsen burner.

The alarm was raised, the college was evacuated and, by the time firefighters arrived, the building's sprinkler system had activated. Three sprinkler heads contained and controlled the fire, preventing it from spreading beyond the laboratory. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire and, thankfully, no injuries were reported.

The college was closed for four days while the sprinkler system was reinstated and safety checks completed. Further work was required to restore the affected laboratory.

For BAFSA, the message is clear. Sprinklers should be designed into new schools and colleges from the outset. They are already required in new school buildings in Scotland and are a condition of government funding for new schools in Wales. In England, BAFSA is calling for sprinklers to be mandatory in newly built schools and colleges, or at the very least for the existing sprinkler expectation in Building Bulletin 100 to be maintained.