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The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service Live Test Burn
| Project: | The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service Live Test Burn |
| Outline: | Parallel test burn in neighbouring properties, one of which was sprinklered. |
| Client: | Isle of Man Fire & Rescue Service |
| System: | Greenflow® |
| Standard: | BS 9251: 2005 |
BACKGROUND
On 8 October 2009, the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service, Douglas Borough Council and Homesafe organised a dramatic parallel test burn in two council-owned properties, one of which was fitted with a domestic fire sprinkler system.
The Homesafe Group were very pleased to supply and install the fire sprinkler system, and to be present at what was an impressively well organised event. Over 100 people witnessed the difference between a "checked" and "unchecked" fire.
LIVE SPRINKLER DEMONSTRATION
Firefighters had planned to leave the fires to burn for 15 minutes, - the time it would take for an alarm to be activated and fire crews to arrive and mobilise. However, the fire spread so horrifically quickly in the unprotected house that the blaze had to be tackled after only five minutes.
During that time, thick black smoke was seen to be billowing from the roof and all the windows, and the fire, which was started in the front living room of both houses, had reached the back door. Temperatures in the unsprinklered house exceeded 1,000°c.
As designed, the fire sprinklers contained, suppressed and extinguished the fire in the neighbouring dwelling. The temperature at its height reached 71°c in the fire sprinklered house, dropping to 20°c following activation.
Council leader David Christian was surprised at the devastation in the unprotected property: "This demonstration is a salutory lesson in domestic fire safety. I will now be inviting the Fire Service to make a presentation to the full Council with the intention of determining future policy."
Spectators were invited into the properties following the test burns, and were impressed with the very minimal disruption and water damage in the sprinklered house.
The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Brian Draper and Assistant Divisional Officer John Murtagh organised the extremely powerful demonstration of the benefits of fire sprinklers and the horrendous consequences of the unsprinklered alternative.
ADO John Murtagh commented:
"A little bit of air freshener, a new sprinkler head, a dehumidifier and a hoover and everyone's happy!"
The unsprinklered property was rendered totally uninhabitable.
If you wish to see video and photographic footage of the day, please visit: www.iomtoday.co.im
Historical note: October 2009’s event was 11 years on from Homesafe's first live test burn on the island, which was organised in partnership with the Fire Chief at the time, Godfrey Cain.
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