Overview
How do sprinklers work?
Sprinklers automatically operate when the room reaches a certain temperature. When activated, the sprinkler will release water with the aim of suppressing or extinguishing the fire. They are designed to stop the fire spreading further.
Did you know?
Sprinklers are triggered one by one where the rise in temperature occurs - they don’t all go off together throughout a building like in the movies!
Why should you install sprinklers?
Sprinklers, and other Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS), can save lives, homes, and businesses. They can provide protection from fire damage and, most importantly, they give people a greater chance of getting out if there is a fire. By reducing the damage and severity of a fire, they can also save money too.
Legal requirements
Some property owners are required by law to install sprinklers. In England, for life safety it is compulsory to install AFSS in:
- New residential blocks over 11m high
- Uncompartmented areas of shops or self-storage buildings with an open plan area over 2000m2
To meet Approved Document B standards, corresponding regulations apply to large single storey buildings where the largest permitted unsprinklered compartment is 20,000m2 (Buildings used for storage/distribution). Find the latest information about legislation on the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) website . You can also contact us using the form below.
Who are they good for?
Everybody. While AFSS are only mandatory in some premises, we recommend that AFSS are considered and installed in all new commercial buildings and retrofitted in residential buildings and other high-risk buildings with vulnerable occupants.
These include:
- Schools
- Care homes or places where vulnerable people live
- Heritage buildings and buildings of national importance
- Hospitals
- Specialist housing
- Residential properties, including student accommodation
- Hotels, B&Bs and hostels
- Complex and deep sub surface structures such as basements
- Large warehouses
- Car parks
- Where there is storage or charging of electric vehicles
- Complex, large or innovative buildings
Sprinklers can also help firefighters - when we need to enter burning buildings on search and rescue operations, sprinklers may help reduce the risks to firefighters by reducing or suppressing the fire.
There are also special sprinkler systems available for vulnerable or older people - find out more on the sprinklers for carers and social workers page.
Extra advice
Are sprinklers enough?
If you manage a property, it's important to get the right sprinkler system in place, however AFSS should always form part of a larger fire safety strategy and work alongside other fire safety provisions such as fire alarms, smoke control systems and fire door sets etc.
Sprinklers – see why they matter
The best way to understand the benefits of sprinklers is to watch our short video.
See the difference sprinklers make in this demonstration.
The additional benefits of sprinklers explained
So it's clear that sprinklers can save lives – but are there other reasons to install them? Let's take a closer look...
Schools
Schools are one of the property types where really significant benefits can be achieved by sprinklers. As well as the obvious safety benefits for students and staff, reducing the risk and impact of fire is good for the local community. A little forward thinking and investment can stop a vital community resource being lost.
We are not the only people who think so. The Department of Education's Building Bulletin 100: Design for fire safety in schools, includes an expectation that ‘all new schools should have fire sprinklers installed except in a few low-risk schools’. To this end, we continue to work with schools, colleges and education authorities to ensure that the benefits of sprinklers are fully considered.
Did you know?
Across all premises types, sprinklers are 99% effective, according to the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the UK report.
Vulnerable people
Sprinkler systems can help slow a fire's development or even supress a fire. This is particularly important for vulnerable people who may have a mobility impairment and need assistance or more time to evacuate.
There are now special self-contained systems available that don't even need to be plumbed into the water mains – find out more about the options on the sprinklers for carers and social workers page.
Did you know?
Statistically speaking, vulnerable and older people are at the greatest risk of fire death. The right sprinkler system can reduce fire risks for people with limited – or no – mobility.
Businesses
In the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the UK report, case studies consistently show a significant reduction in business interruption when a fire is controlled by a sprinkler system.
Shopping Centres
Shopping centres are generally the most complicated of retail structures, requiring a fire alarm system able to provide communication between active systems such as sprinklers, smoke control provision, emergency lighting and staffed control centres.
If you have responsibility for fire safety in a shopping centre, take a look at our letter on fire safety in London's shopping centres.
Useful links
Other sources of expertise
National Fire Sprinkler Network and European Fire Sprinkler Network – both encourage the greater use of fire sprinklers to save lives and protect property and the environment.
Sprinklers for carers and support workers – specialist advice on sprinklers and personal sprinkler systems.
Specialised Housing Guidance – published by NFCC – provides guidance on recommended standards for housing with vulnerable people.
Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom analysis from fire service data – published by Optimal Economics in conjunction with the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) and the National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC).
Business Sprinkler Alliance - advocates greater business resilience by enhancing protection against fire through the increased use of sprinklers in commercial and industrial premises.
British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association – is the professional membership association for AFSS and sprinkler installation. It is dedicated to making sure that sprinkler systems are installed to the highest professional standards, and provides useful information.
Residential Sprinkler Association – is a not-for-profit organisation providing support to the residential sector of the UK Fire Sprinkler Industry – visit for advice on sprinklers in the home.