What is a Fire Sprinkler System
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection method, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected. Although historically only used in factories and large commercial buildings, systems for homes and small buildings are now available at a cost-effective price.
Fire sprinkler systems are extensively used worldwide, with over 40 million sprinkler heads fitted each year. In buildings completely protected by fire sprinkler systems, over 96% of fires were controlled by fire sprinklers alone.
There are four main types of fire sprinkler system:
-
Wet pipe
-
Dry pipe
-
Deluge
-
Pre-action
In a wet pipe fire sprinkler system, the most common type in residential buildings, cold water is stored under pressure in the pipes and is released immediately by sprinkler heads when the predetermined heat level is reached.
Dry pipe sprinkler systems take slightly longer to activate and are used in unheated/unoccupied buildings where pipes may freeze and burst. Nitrogen gas or pressurised air is stored in the pipes, connected to a water storage tank or main. On activation by a fire, the air leaks out of the pipes, causing the water to flow through the pipes to the sprinkler heads.
Deluge sprinkler systems are typically used in areas where rapid fire damage is a major concern, such as warehouse loading bays and high-rise buildings. In these systems, the nozzle is always open. They are triggered by an alarm that opens a water release valve.
Pre-action sprinkler systems are a combination of wet and dry pipe systems, typically used in areas at high-risk of water damage. Water is not stored in the pipes until a fire is detected, when the water is released to the sprinkler heads. The response time is as fast as a standard wet pipe sprinkler system. Automatic fire sprinkler systems are also available and are effective in large areas such as offices and shopping centres.
FAQ's
Advantages of Fire Hydrant System
-
Reduce The Risk Of Death
-
Minimal Maintenance
-
Reduced Insurance Costs
-
Reducing The Risk Of Damage To Your Property is a Benefit Of Installing Fire Sprinklers
-
Cost Effective Fire Protection System
-
Save Lives
A fire sprinkler head is the component of a sprinkler system that discharges water when the fire has been detected. It comes in assorted designs.
Each sprinkler head contains a trigger mechanism, which opens to release water onto the fire.
With conventional heads, suitable for most residential fire sprinkler systems, some water is discharged onto the ceiling.
Upright or pendant spray sprinklers aim all the water straight down and are suited to rooms with high ceilings.
Heads need not be obtrusive and may be recessed in the ceiling or covered with resin caps to make them more aesthetically pleasing.
Side wall sprinklers attach to a high point on the wall. They usually give wider water coverage than conventional sprinkler heads.
The plug inside the head that holds back the water may be made of Wood’s metal, a mixture of bismuth, lead, tin, and cadmium that melts at a relatively low temperature, or a small glass bulb containing a glycerin-based liquid that expands and shatters when it gets hot, releasing the water.
Each sprinkler head activates independently. Only sprinklers above the fire will operate, maximising water pressure over the fire and reducing fire and water damage to the building. Sprinklers use far less water than fire hoses.
Yes. Fire sprinkler systems are a very effective form of fire protection and are actually the most widely used fire protection system today due to the benefits of minimized damage, saved lives, and customizable installation designs.
The goal of a fire sprinkler system is to use the right amount of water (as little as possible) in the right location (at the fire emergency) at the right time (as fast as possible). Because of this, fires are usually diffused at the scene of the breakout, rather than growing throughout an office space to a dangerous size. Usually, only one or two sprinkler heads are needed to handle a fire.
Fire sprinkler systems are also very effective at saving lives, as the fire is usually put out before it has time to spread and cause severe injury or death. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has no record of a fire killing more than two people in a building with complete fire sprinkler installation where the system was properly operating (except in the instance of an explosion or flash fire).