Report: Effectiveness of sprinklers in residential premises

Report of BRE project commissioned ODPM to carry out a study on the effectiveness of sprinklers in residential premises

• To analyse statistical information to determine how effective they have been in reducing life loss and property damage
• To make a risk-based assessment to determine potential benefits for the UK housing sector, including dwellings, HMOs, flats and maisonettes of varying heights
• To collect data on the benefits and costs of residential sprinklers
• To establish benchmark fire tests for UK conditions to support the further development of British Standard Drafts for Development 251 and 252, and
• To carry out an experimental programme to examine and quantify the effectiveness in fire suppression of residential sprinklers, in particular with regards to life safety in the room of origin.
• Executive summary
• Summary Report
• Contents
• Project description
• Pilot study
• Benchmark tests
• Experimental programme
• Cost benefit analysis
• Other considerations and recommendations for further work
• Appendix 5A House fires test data
• Appendix 5B House fires photographs
• Appendix 5C House fires optical density, visibility and fractional effective dose
• Appendix 5D House fires summary of temperatures and fractional effective dose
• Appendix 5E Compartment fires photographs
• Appendix 5F Compartment fires temperatures, gas concentrations, optical transmittance, smoke alarm activations and water flow rate
• Appendix 5G Compartment fires fractional effective dose, optical density, visibility and temperatures
• Appendix 5H Compartment fires summary of temperatures and fractional effective dose
• Appendix 5I Calorimetry fires heat release rate versus time