Spanish media reports that seven people have died in a fire in the Aurora care home in Seville. The fire brigade was called just after midnight on the morning of 9th February. Investigators have established that it was caused by an electrical fault in a bed designed for the disabled. Four more of the 19 residents remain in hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Seville City Hall has declared three days of morning. According to news bulletins on Spanish television the home was new and met all the fire safety regulations. Sprinklers are not required in care homes in Spain but after this fire the evening news programmes discussed the benefits of sprinklers, with an interview of Emilio Rodriguez, owner of the sprinkler contractor Pacisa.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Sprinkler Protected Car Stacker Fire Test
The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) requested BRE Global carry out a test to investigate the effect of a sprinkler system on the growth and spread of a fire in and between cars in a car park stacking system. This request followed the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Sustainable Buildings Division research programme titled Fire Spread in Car Parks. BAFSA wished to carry out an additional test using the CLG Car Stacker Rig in order to demonstrate the effect that a sprinkler system would have on the fire.
The test was designed to replicate the test carried out under the CLG program of research, but with the addition of a sprinkler system, designed and installed by BAFSA.
It is BRE Global's understanding that the system was designed by the client to be as consistent as possible with the prescriptive guidance given in BS EN 12845, LPC Sprinkler Rules. However, sprinkler protection of real car stackers will require the installation of a sprinkler system on a number of levels depending on the height of the storage. It was therefore considered appropriate by BAFSA to trial a number of hydraulic designs and sprinkler heads prior to the fire test.
Ian Gough, BAFSA commented “Fire sprinklers have been successfully protecting lives and property, including car parks, for many years; however, hazards and risks can quickly change. It is important that the fire sprinkler industry recognises such changes and is confident that the sprinklers systems installed always provide effective and efficient protection. This work carried out by BRE Global provides valuable information for sprinkler contractors, specifiers and others with an interest in these new and innovative parking systems.”
See the full report at PDF Report
The test was designed to replicate the test carried out under the CLG program of research, but with the addition of a sprinkler system, designed and installed by BAFSA.
It is BRE Global's understanding that the system was designed by the client to be as consistent as possible with the prescriptive guidance given in BS EN 12845, LPC Sprinkler Rules. However, sprinkler protection of real car stackers will require the installation of a sprinkler system on a number of levels depending on the height of the storage. It was therefore considered appropriate by BAFSA to trial a number of hydraulic designs and sprinkler heads prior to the fire test.
Ian Gough, BAFSA commented “Fire sprinklers have been successfully protecting lives and property, including car parks, for many years; however, hazards and risks can quickly change. It is important that the fire sprinkler industry recognises such changes and is confident that the sprinklers systems installed always provide effective and efficient protection. This work carried out by BRE Global provides valuable information for sprinkler contractors, specifiers and others with an interest in these new and innovative parking systems.”
See the full report at PDF Report
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Female student has died in a fire
The Dutch media reports that a female student has died in a fire in a student house in Groningen, in the north of The Netherlands. The fire service was called at about 07:30 but it was not until midday that fire-fighters could enter the building, which was completely burnt out.
The 19 year old student and six other students were in the building. Two of the six students were taken to hospital. The student house in the Oude Ebbingestraat was a former shop and an historical building near the market square in the town centre.
The 19 year old student and six other students were in the building. Two of the six students were taken to hospital. The student house in the Oude Ebbingestraat was a former shop and an historical building near the market square in the town centre.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Sprinklers to Welsh Homes
The Welsh Assembly Members voted unanimously today voted in support of Ann Jones AM’s bid to make the installation of sprinkler systems mandatory in Wales’s new homes.
The Vale of Clwyd AM’s proposal has been described as historic by Chief Fire Officers across Wales and numerous organisations in the Fire Safety field including the National Fire Sprinkler Network.
Since introducing the Assembly’s first ever backbench Legislative Competence Order (LCO), Ann Jones has won the full support of amongst others, the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales’ 3 Fire Services and the FBU.
With overwhelming supportive evidence from the expert and industry community, Mrs Jones’s LCO successfully received approval from cross party Committees in both Wales and Westminster.
Read more at www.bafsa.org.uk
The Vale of Clwyd AM’s proposal has been described as historic by Chief Fire Officers across Wales and numerous organisations in the Fire Safety field including the National Fire Sprinkler Network.
Since introducing the Assembly’s first ever backbench Legislative Competence Order (LCO), Ann Jones has won the full support of amongst others, the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales’ 3 Fire Services and the FBU.
With overwhelming supportive evidence from the expert and industry community, Mrs Jones’s LCO successfully received approval from cross party Committees in both Wales and Westminster.
Read more at www.bafsa.org.uk
Friday, 5 February 2010
Restaurant Fire in Star City, Birmingham
West Midlands Fire & Rescue Service reports that just after 22:00 on Monday, 18th January the fire service was called to a fire in a restaurant in the Star City entertainment complex in Birmingham.
The fire started in the cavity of a partition wall at the rear of a cooking griddle. Investigators believe that over time an accumulation of cooking oils had entered the cavity and eventually ignited. The partition wall did not extend to full ceiling height and so the fire discharged into the void above the false ceiling.
Two sprinkler heads, one on each side of the partition wall, activated during the fire and contained the damaged area to the inside of the wall cavity. The restaurant was able to reopen on 22nd January while the rest of the complex reopened as normal the following day.
The fire started in the cavity of a partition wall at the rear of a cooking griddle. Investigators believe that over time an accumulation of cooking oils had entered the cavity and eventually ignited. The partition wall did not extend to full ceiling height and so the fire discharged into the void above the false ceiling.
Two sprinkler heads, one on each side of the partition wall, activated during the fire and contained the damaged area to the inside of the wall cavity. The restaurant was able to reopen on 22nd January while the rest of the complex reopened as normal the following day.
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Fire in Dutch Detention Centre
It has been repoted by the Dutch press that a 32-year-old man in a detention centre for illegal immigrants set fire to his cell. The detention centre was fitted with sprinklers and two sprinkler operated and extinguished the fire. 44 prisoners and staff were evacuated and 16 people were treated at the scene for the effects of minor smoke inhalation. Nobody was seriously injured and the damage was limited.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Fire in Dutch Supermarket
In the Netherlands a report that a fire in a supermarket in Dordrecht on 1st January could have been much worse but for the sprinkler installed in the fireworks store, which prevented the fireworks from exploding the rest of the supermarket (which was unsrinklered) was badly damaged.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Sprinkler reliability proven in Denmark
The Danish Institute of Fire & Security Technology has published the results of a survey of over 500 sprinkler systems installed in Denmark and found that they had a 98% reliability!
It found that 98% of these systems were correctly designed for the risk and in good working order. The 2% of failures included systems shut down for maintenance. DIFT advised fire engineers to apply 98% reliability for sprinkler systems in their designs.
It found that 98% of these systems were correctly designed for the risk and in good working order. The 2% of failures included systems shut down for maintenance. DIFT advised fire engineers to apply 98% reliability for sprinkler systems in their designs.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Channel Tunnel forced to fit sprinkler
The Channel Tunnel is finally to have a sprinkler system fitted after the third fire in 12 years forced Eurotunnel to admit that it had underestimated the risk of disaster deep under the sea bed.
Burning trains will stop at “extinguishing stations” that will be built at intervals along the 31-mile (50km) twin tunnels. Heat detectors will locate the fire and high-pressure jets of water or foam will be aimed automatically at the source as soon as the last passenger has escaped into the service tunnel.
Read More
Burning trains will stop at “extinguishing stations” that will be built at intervals along the 31-mile (50km) twin tunnels. Heat detectors will locate the fire and high-pressure jets of water or foam will be aimed automatically at the source as soon as the last passenger has escaped into the service tunnel.
Read More
Friday, 16 January 2009
Sprinkler Saves Swedish Shopping Centre
Gösta Holmstedt reports that at 05:44 on Monday, 15th September an automatic alarm was sent from a shopping centre to the SOS Alarm centre in Västerås, 90km north-west of Stockholm.
The fire brigade arrived within ten minutes and found that some oily rags had self-ignited but that the fire had been put out by a single sprinkler. A few hours later the shopping centre opened as normal.
The Managing Director of the shopping centre was delighted that the sprinkler system had worked so well.
Read more
The fire brigade arrived within ten minutes and found that some oily rags had self-ignited but that the fire had been put out by a single sprinkler. A few hours later the shopping centre opened as normal.
The Managing Director of the shopping centre was delighted that the sprinkler system had worked so well.
Read more
Monday, 5 January 2009
Fire crews called to school blaze
About 60 firefighters have been tackling a blaze at a school building in South Yorkshire.
The fire broke out in the old four-storey buildings of Edlington Comprehensive school on Tait Avenue in Doncaster just before 0600 GMT.
All four floors of the building were involved in the fire and some blasts were heard from within the building.
The new school block, which was due to open on Monday, was not affected by the incident.
BBC
The fire broke out in the old four-storey buildings of Edlington Comprehensive school on Tait Avenue in Doncaster just before 0600 GMT.
All four floors of the building were involved in the fire and some blasts were heard from within the building.
The new school block, which was due to open on Monday, was not affected by the incident.
BBC
Friday, 5 December 2008
Oxygen Reduction Fire Protection System
US Government Agency Rules on Oxygen Reduction Fire Protection System
The US Occupational Health and Safety Administration has issued a comprehensive explanation of its reasons for refusing to approve the FirePass low oxygen fire protection system.
Read the full document
The US Occupational Health and Safety Administration has issued a comprehensive explanation of its reasons for refusing to approve the FirePass low oxygen fire protection system.
Read the full document
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
First landlord in London imprisoned for fire safety breaches
A landlord has been sent to prison in the first custodial sentence to be given in London under the new fire safety regulations.
Mr Mehmat Parlak was sentenced to four months imprisonment and his company, Watchacre properties limited, were fined £21,000 following conviction for serious breaches of the regulatory reform order (RRO).
The prosecution followed a fatal fire at a flat on Ruskin Road, Tottenham on 16 September 2007. After being removed from the building by firefighters, a man was taken to hospital but died later from his injuries.
Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority which runs the London Fire Brigade said “This fire resulted in a man dying and highlights why landlords and businesses must take their responsibilities under the regulatory reform order seriously. The London Fire Brigade works hard to bring irresponsible companies and individuals to court, which can as this case has shown result in a custodial sentence.”
Sentencing of the company and their Director Mr Parlak, of Wellington Road, Enfield took place at Wood Green Crown Court on 20 October after they pleaded guilty to eight breaches of fire safety.
Read More LFB
Mr Mehmat Parlak was sentenced to four months imprisonment and his company, Watchacre properties limited, were fined £21,000 following conviction for serious breaches of the regulatory reform order (RRO).
The prosecution followed a fatal fire at a flat on Ruskin Road, Tottenham on 16 September 2007. After being removed from the building by firefighters, a man was taken to hospital but died later from his injuries.
Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority which runs the London Fire Brigade said “This fire resulted in a man dying and highlights why landlords and businesses must take their responsibilities under the regulatory reform order seriously. The London Fire Brigade works hard to bring irresponsible companies and individuals to court, which can as this case has shown result in a custodial sentence.”
Sentencing of the company and their Director Mr Parlak, of Wellington Road, Enfield took place at Wood Green Crown Court on 20 October after they pleaded guilty to eight breaches of fire safety.
Read More LFB
Landlord imprisoned
A landlord has been sent to prison in the first custodial sentence to be given in London under the new fire safety regulations.
Mr Mehmat Parlak was sentenced to four months imprisonment and his company, Watchacre properties limited, were fined £21,000 following conviction for serious breaches of the regulatory reform order (RRO).
The prosecution followed a fatal fire at a flat on Ruskin Road, Tottenham on 16 September 2007. After being removed from the building by firefighters, a man was taken to hospital but died later from his injuries.
Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority which runs the London Fire Brigade said “This fire resulted in a man dying and highlights why landlords and businesses must take their responsibilities under the regulatory reform order seriously. The London Fire Brigade works hard to bring irresponsible companies and individuals to court, which can as this case has shown result in a custodial sentence.”
Sentencing of the company and their Director Mr Parlak, of Wellington Road, Enfield took place at Wood Green Crown Court on 20 October after they pleaded guilty to eight breaches of fire safety.
Mr Mehmat Parlak was sentenced to four months imprisonment and his company, Watchacre properties limited, were fined £21,000 following conviction for serious breaches of the regulatory reform order (RRO).
The prosecution followed a fatal fire at a flat on Ruskin Road, Tottenham on 16 September 2007. After being removed from the building by firefighters, a man was taken to hospital but died later from his injuries.
Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority which runs the London Fire Brigade said “This fire resulted in a man dying and highlights why landlords and businesses must take their responsibilities under the regulatory reform order seriously. The London Fire Brigade works hard to bring irresponsible companies and individuals to court, which can as this case has shown result in a custodial sentence.”
Sentencing of the company and their Director Mr Parlak, of Wellington Road, Enfield took place at Wood Green Crown Court on 20 October after they pleaded guilty to eight breaches of fire safety.
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