Sprinklers

Sprinklers do more than people realise

They safeguard:  

• people
• firefighters
• jobs
• homes
• businesses
• the economy
• the environment    
  

Greater uptake of fire sprinklers would make the country more resilient and competitive, and help ensure that needless fires do not hinder continuing economic recovery.

About sprinkler systems

If you want reduce the risk of dying in a fire as far as you possibly can, you should get fire sprinklers in your home.   

• Sprinklers are fitted in as many rooms as you want them to be

• Their pipes are small and run off mains water       

• They are individually heat-activated, so the whole system doesn't go off at once

• They rarely get set off accidentally, as they need high temperatures to trigger them

• They operate automatically, whether you're at home or not

• If you have a sprinkler system it must be in conjunction with a smoke alarm. The smoke alarm will alert you to slow-burning, smoke-generating fires that may not generate enough heat to trigger the sprinkler

• Sprinklers sound the alarm when they go off - so they alert you and also tackle the fire

• Sprinklers are particularly suitable for older people and people who have difficulty moving around or have some other impairment 

Myth Busters

• Not every fire sprinkler goes off when there is a fire. It is common for just one or two sprinklers to control a fire until the fire service arrives 
   

• Fire sprinklers respond to heat. Once activated, a sprinkler delivers water directly to the fire and can set off an alarm to evacuate occupants and alert the local fire service

    
  

• Fire sprinklers are cost beneficial to install. The cost of sprinklers is a small fraction of the potential risks and costs associated with a fire

Automatic sprinklers – Background and Benefits

Real life cases

• In February 2019, a fire destroyed an Ocado warehouse in Andover in Hampshire. A report has found it spread because a detection system failed and staff turned off the sprinklers.
• Read the report here  

• From the Heads Up website - Sprinklers save lives and property

• Read our selection of short pieces about fire incidents where sprinkler systems prevented a more serious outcome.

Match funding

For several years, we have been working closely with local councils and housing groups to promote the installation of sprinklers, recognising that sprinklers definitely have a role to play as part of a fire safety solution for buildings and in particular high rise buildings.

A total of £400,000 was set aside by the Service to match fund a number of projects to fit and retro-fit sprinkler systems in high rise and other buildings. Our partners are East Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council and Amicus Horizon.

These include projects in Eastbourne at self-contained flats designated as being for use by tenants with physical disabilities, sensory impairment and other long term conditions, in Bexhill at a new care facility and Brighton and Hove, at a thirteen storey block of sheltered accommodation.

We will continue to encourage building managers, owners and developers to install sprinklers where there is a case for doing so, and proactively provide advice and support on fire safety.

Sprinklers should become more commonplace

This is because sprinklers can significantly help to:    

• Reduce death and injury from fire 
• Reduce the risks to firefighters
  
• Protect property and heritage
  
• Reduce the effects of arson
  
• Reduce the environmental impact of fire
  
• Reduce fire costs and the disruption to the community and business
  
• Permit design freedoms and encourage innovative, inclusive and sustainable architecture 

The Fire Authority will lobby for the creation of a legal requirement to fit sprinklers in those premises where the risk to life and loss of property from fire are most significant.

It will also play a key leadership role in promoting the better understanding of the benefits of sprinklers and will encourage building managers, owners and developers to install sprinklers where there is a risk-based case for doing so.