The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) has published its annual review for 2025–2026, showcasing the effectiveness of sprinklers and water-based fire suppression systems through real-world evidence of fire incidents
The Sprinkler Saves report reviewed 86 primary fires involving Automatic Water Suppression Systems (AWSS) that were reported to BAFSA for the financial year ending March 2026, as well as primary fire data sets obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
Several case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of sprinklers are mentioned in the review, including an industrial fire in Lancashire, an e-bike fire in a tall residential building in Manchester, and a care home loft fire in the West Midlands.
The review aims to highlight the vital role that AWSS play in protecting communities from fire when used as a part of a package of fire safety measures. As BAFSA explains, the installation of a life safety AWSS helps to “reduce fire growth and spread of heat and smoke, allowing more time for the occupants to escape to safety or be rescued”, and provides an element of potential building and property protection from fire.
Recent changes in regulatory guidance show a renewed focus by the UK government on fire safety, such as a reduction in the building height at which sprinklers are required (11m in purpose-built blocks of flats), the requirement for all new purpose-built residential care homes to be fitted with appropriate AWSS regardless of height, and the rise of retrofitting sprinkler projects in large-scale residential/multi-occupied buildings.
The report findings indicate that sprinklers are 99% effective at controlling or extinguishing fires and demonstrate a 94% reliability rate across all building types. Additionally, AWSS have been found to play a significant role in “reducing harm and protecting vulnerable people, supporting the case for a greater inclusion of sprinklers in purpose-built blocks of flats”.
Introducing the review was the Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), Phil Garrigan OBE KSM, who reiterated the effectiveness of sprinklers in saving lives and helping to prevent injuries.
“With a proven track record spanning more than a century, they are highly dependable, limit damage to buildings, reduce repair costs, and lessen the environmental damage of fire.
“Their activation can also provide vital additional time during incidents, which in some circumstances may reduce the need for full evacuations.”
However, despite clear evidence of their effectiveness, Garrigan noted that “progress has not moved at the pace required”, with sprinkler regulations in England lagging behind other parts of the UK.
Terry McDermott, Secretary for the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN), welcomed the findings of the report and stated that NFSN fully supported the “continued expansion of water-based fire suppression as a cornerstone of fire safety in the UK”.
You can view the Sprinkler Saves Annual Review 2025-2026 report here.