Sprinklers save loss of warehouse: a recent fire in an Asda warehouse on the Brackmills Industrial Estate, Northampton, was extinguished by sprinklers, leaving minor damage and preventing the likely loss of the building. As fate would have it, the warehouse was situated next to the City Logistics building

A potential major conflagration was recently thwarted by the operation of an automatic fire sprinkler system in a large distribution warehouse on the Brackmills Industrial Estate, Northampton.

The premises are a major distribution centre for the Asda supermarket chain and consist of a large, modern, purpose-built warehouse storing a wide variety of house hold goods. The overall dimensions are approximately 170m x 150m with a height of 17m to the eaves At the front of the building is a three-storey office section and the premises are in operation 24-hours a day.

Within the warehouse is a four level mezzanine zone. Clothing items hanging on rails move around this section where they are batched for dispatch. Some movement is by band, some by automated conveyor system.

The fire alarm operated at 0510 and staff in the building immediately investigated the cause of the alarm, believing that a smoke detector had operated on the third mezzanine level. During the next few minutes' further smoke detectors operated at different levels in the mezzanine section and the fire service were called via 999 as the premises were quickly evacuated.

The first fire appliance arrived at 0529 and security staff accompanied the officer in charge to the area where the fire alarm was operating, saying that smoke had been seen. As they approached the affected area it was observed that the sprinkler system was operating and a fire could be seen on the first mezzanine level.

Fortunately the The had been kept under control by a single sprinkler head that had activated. The fire crews quickly extinguished the small fire that remained and only a small amount of damage was caused.

Closer investigation revealed that the fire had started on the first mezzanine level in a section where garments were hanging: the garments at this location were blouses and jumpers each wrapped in polythene. All these garments consisted principally of man-made fibres (polyester and acrylic) and were hanging close together on plastic hangers.

Once ignited, fire spread vertically to clothes on the rail above and laterally along the clothing on the lower rail. Due to the open-grid flooring, hot gases and smoke were able to rise quickly through to the mezzanine levels above. Garments at the top level were affected by heat but did not actually ignite.

Of particular interest is the fact that some garments travelling round on the automated rail at ground floor level were ignited whilst moving. Fortunately, the rail stopped moving when the fire alarm operated. Fire safety officers and warehouse operators alike are advised to ensure similar operations also have in-built automatic cut off devices linked to fire alarm and detection systems.

The fire did not have an opportunity to develop significantly due to the operation of the sprinkler system. The sprinkler operated approximately one and a half minutes after the first smoke detector activation. The single sprinkler head that operated was on the first mezzanine level. It was fitted just under the floor above and approximately one metre across from the position of the seat of the fire. The sprinkler head was a quick response, standard pattern pendant sprinkler, with a 68[degrees] operating temperature.

CFO David Archer said: "The fire was controlled by the sprinkler leaving only a small amount of material still smouldering Had there been no sprinklers fitted, I firmly believe that a large and severe fire would have developed that could well have resulted in the total loss of the building and its contents".

Having considered and ruled out any possible accidental causes, investigators concluded that deliberate ignition is by tar the most likely cause of this fire and investigations are still ongoing in conjunction with Northamptonshire Police.

Readers may also be interested to know that coincidentally the Asda warehouse sits next door to the City Logistics building which has its own interesting history regarding fire precautions and sprinkler systems.

For further details please contact DO Ian Gough or StnO Neil Eaton on tel: 01604 700123

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