Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Overview British Life Safety Experience Usefulness Reliability and Effectiveness Retrofitting Domestic Sprinklers European Experience 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 1

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Life Safety - British Domestic Experience 50 years of progressive reduction in domestic loss through regulation and education q q q q q Regulation of non flammable children’s nightwear Regulation of open fireguards Education on home fire safety Regulation of foam filled furniture Education of domestic smoke detectors to alert residents Regulation of hard wired smoke detectors in new build Regulation of low propensity ignition cigarettes Regulation in Scotland of sprinklers in care establishments Regulation in Wales of domestic sprinklers in new build Education in Britain of sprinklers in high rise dwellings 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 2

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Life Safety Statistics 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 3

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Usefulness Life Safety Benefits of Domestic Sprinklers British Government sponsored study in 2004 proved controversial and inconclusive US studies [National Fire Protection Association] indicate Sprinklers: • Reduce death and injuries from fire • Reduce risk to firefighters and protect property and heritage • Minimise impact of arson and environmental impact • Reduce loss and disruption to communities and business • Support design freedom in building compartments and structure British FRS data suggests fire death rate is reduced by 81% Anecdotal evidence suggests equal or better performance in UK with only one death recorded in a sprinklered building (care home, occupant set fire to bedding, sprinkler extinguished the fire) 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 4

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Usefulness British Regulatory Requirements In the UK, sprinklers are required in new: Ø Housing in Wales Ø Apartments higher than 18 m in Scotland 30 m in England Ø Care homes in Scotland Wales (option to door closers in England) And the Scottish government is consulting on a proposal to require sprinklers in new apartments and all new social housing Sprinklers are incentivised through flexibility in other measures: Ø Instead of second staircase in four-storey house Ø Open-plan ground floor in a three-storey house Ø Open-plan apartment layout Ø Longer escape routes, reduced fire resistance, longer fire brigade access 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 5

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Residential Sprinkler in Operation 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 6

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Usefulness Activations Norway Britain Sweden 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 7

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Usefulness Activation 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 8

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Reliability and Effectiveness Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the UK An Analysis from Fire Service Data Jointly commissioned a study to assess the reliability and effectiveness of sprinkler systems Study based on analysis of UK FRS incident reports – Optimal Economics of Edinburgh selected to perform study Based on data from 2011 -2015, covering 2, 294 fires in sprinklered premises, of which 414 in dwellings Reliability assessed as 94% and effectiveness when operated 99% In dwellings, fire damage area reduced from 18 -21 m 2 to 4 m 2 and only one sprinkler operated in 75% of fires 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 9

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Reliability and Effectiveness Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the UK An Analysis from Fire Service Data Effectiveness and Reliability of sprinklers assessed against two key criteria: 1: Performance effectiveness When sprinklers operate how effective are they in extinguishing or controlling fires and thus preventing damage? 2: Operational reliability How reliable are sprinklers in coming into operation when a fire breaks out? 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 10

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Reliability and Effectiveness Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the UK An Analysis from Fire Service Data Consistent findings compared with other major research studies: q q q 96. 2% reliable (USA. NFPA 1970) 86. 1% reliable (USA. Kelly 2003) 99. 5% reliable(Aus/NZ. Marryat, Rev 1988) 95% reliable (UK. Smith 1983) 92% reliable and 96% effective (USA, Ahrens 2017) 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 11

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Reliability and Effectiveness Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the UK An Analysis from Fire Service Data Headlines Performance effectiveness Across all building types, the performance effectiveness sprinkler systems was assessed as 99% in situations where sprinklers could have been expected to have operated. Operational reliability The research indicates that the operational reliability of the systems was 94% across all building types where sprinklers could have been expected to have operated. 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 12

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Reliability and Effectiveness Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the UK An Analysis from Fire Service Data q q q q Headlines Fires in dwellings where sprinkler systems operated had an average area of fire damage of under 4 m². This compares to an average area of fire damage of 18 to 21 m² for all dwelling fires in England between 2011/12 and 2015/16. The sprinkler confined fire in the room of origin 87% of the time. In 95% of fires less than five heads operate. In 65% only one head operates. In dwellings one head operates on 75% of occasions. In flats sprinklers are nearly 100% effective. 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 13

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Reliability and Effectiveness Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the UK An Analysis from Fire Service Data Conclusions q This extensive, independent, data analysis shows that sprinklers are highly reliable and effective. q They work as intended in 94% of cases and control or extinguish fires in 99% of cases over a range of building types. q There is significant evidence of reducing fire damage. q The report is consistent with other similar studies. 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 14

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Retrofitting Sprinklers Case 1 13 floor tower 47 Apartments Social Housing Occupiers remained in situ during work Cost € 1, 300 per apartment [Comparable to other Fire Protection costs] Case 2 52 x 5+ floor buildings 2 x 8 floor buildings 63 apartments completed, 4 x 15 floor towers started 1 day of work per flat 63 apartments cost € 110, 000 3 -5 year programme 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 15

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Retrofitting Sprinklers 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 16

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Retrofitting Sprinklers Unobtrusive Heads Discrete Equipment 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 17

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Retrofitting Sprinklers Post Grenfell • • • Pre-Grenfell, hundreds of buildings had been retrofitted Post-Grenfell, local councils have announced they will retrofit over 1, 000 social housing buildings with sprinklers Costs are a little lower for new construction and higher for larger apartments (up to € 2, 500 per apartment) 14 September 2018 14 June 2017 72 Deaths Stillborn – 81 years 3 Inquires Public Criminal Building Controls 495 Survivors Bereaved Residents 15 Companies 2 Trade Unions 8 Public Bodies FIEP Brussels 18

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies European Experience 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 19

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies European Experience Sweden 2017 study found 99. 7% sprinkler system reliability (effectiveness was not assessed) Denmark 2007 researchers found 97% reliability French and German studies found combined reliability and effectiveness (the product of the two) of 97% in France and 98% in Germany Norway has required sprinklers in all new flats since July 2010 Many new flats in Sweden have sprinklers Residential sprinklers are also required in: New care homes in Norway and Sweden Most new care homes in Denmark and Finland Over half of existing care homes in Finland 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 20

Use of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Domestic Residencies Thank You Dennis Davis CTIF Special Adviser firstfirecall@aol. com 14 September 2018 FIEP Brussels 21