The LWF Blog
Fire Safety Engineering for Design – Life Safety Sprinkler Systems – Part 262
November 25, 2025 10:53 amLWF’s Fire Safety Engineering blog series is written for Architects, building designers and others in the construction industry to highlight and promote discussion on all topics around fire engineering. In part 261, LWF talked about life safety and sprinkler systems. In part 262, we will consider the additional measures considered necessary in the UK for life safety sprinkler systems.
The provision of sprinklers as a life safety fire protection measure commonly means that they are required in order for building occupants to make a safe evacuation from the building to a place of safety. The importance of such systems has led to some additional measures being put into place by the UK design codes, over and above those that may be required for property protection sprinkler systems.
Life safety sprinkler systems are typically ‘wet’ pipe installations to avoid a delay in charging the system with water.
The sprinkler system should be arranged into zones of not more than 2400 m2 and should only cover one ownership and one floor level.
The water flow into each installation control valve and zone should be monitored and the device connected to a working fire alarm panel.
Installation control valves should be arranged with a valved bypass or a parallel duplicate valve set, to allow valve maintenance with no interruption of water supply to the sprinkler system.
All stop valves located between the water sources and sprinkler head should be electrically-monitored and tamper-proof.
It is a requirement that permanent test and drain facilities are provided for each zone.
Each zone should be furnished with flushing valves.
Quick response sprinklers are commonly necessary for a life safety sprinkler system. There are restrictions on the type of sprinklers suitable for these systems.
A consistent and reliable water supply should be provided, consisting of two single water supplies or two stored water supplies.
The block plan should contain additional information such as zone valve locations.
Restrictions are put into place relating to the extent of areas that may be shut down for maintenance, repair or alteration t any one time. Strict notification procedures prior to shutdown may be required.
In part 263 of LWF’s series on fire engineering we will talk about domestic and residential sprinklers, which have become popular in recent years. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this blog, or wish to discuss your own project with one of our fire engineers, please contact us.
Lawrence Webster Forrest has been working with their clients since 1986 to produce innovative and exciting building projects. If you would like further information on how LWF and fire strategies could assist you, please contact the LWF office on 0800 410 1130.
While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in LWF’s publications is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information.