London Fire Brigade report that at about 20:23 hrs on Tuesday 11th November, fire crews were called to an automatic fire alarm system actuating at a three storey secondary school in St Mary’s Road in Newham, East London.
On arrival they were met by the school caretaker who had been about to secure the building when the fire alarm operated. Fire crews searched the zone indicated and found that the school’s sprinkler system had extinguished a fire involving a 12kW electric kiln which was located in a cupboard in an Art and Technology classroom
The kiln, which generated heat of up to 1300 degrees Cº, is used to fire class pottery projects. The fire had resulted when plastic trays placed on top of the operating kiln were ignited.
A single sprinkler head, located inside the cupboard, had operated and extinguished the fire. No fire-fighting action was required and crews were then engaged in ‘salvage’ operations. The school was constructed in 2010.
BAFSA Comment: This incident not only confrms the value of sprinkler systems but demonstrates how all such cupboards should be protected whether this is required by the standard or not.
