The effectiveness of residential sprinklers
In 2001 The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) set up a
group to establish the effectiveness of residential sprinkler
systems. The project was run by the British Research Establishment
(BRE), with fire tests at Garston and Cardington testing
facilities.
Much of the work has been completed, but detailed results have not
been released. A good outcome from this project will lead to the
increased use of sprinklers in existing housing, and the
conclusions will appear in the next revision of the
guidance note on the Fire Safety Building Regulations,
Approved Document B (AD-B) .
The project covers the review of the effectiveness of residential
sprinklers, and a risk based assessment of benefits for the UK
housing sector, including dwellings, Houses of Multiple Occupancy
(HMOs), flats and maisonettes of varying heights.
There are three elements to the project: -
- to conduct a cost benefit exercise
- to establish benchmark fire tests
- to carry out a programme of experimental fire tests assessing the
effectiveness of fire suppression in the room of origin.
The sprinklers chosen, of types listed to UL1626 (The
Underwriters Laboratories fire test for residential sprinklers),
have performed satisfactorily with regard to the DD252 (Draft for
development components for residential sprinkler systems-
Specification and test methods for residential sprinklers tests)
and the project showed that residential sprinklers, installed to DD
251 (Draft for Development -Sprinkler systems for residential and
domestic occupancies), would be likely to save the lives of almost
every person in the room of fire origin, and every life elsewhere
in the building.
It also showed the benefit of smoke detection for fires with
slow heat release and significant smoke production.
Find out more from the
Residential Sprinklers
Associates website or contact Avon Fire and Rescue Service
Headquarters on 0117 9262061 and ask for your area Fire Safety
Office.