Understanding Fire Sprinklers
Fire Sprinklers Save Lives
Fire sprinklers should be an integral part of any buildings fire safety measures. A fire sprinkler system will detect and control a fire in the early stages and activate an alarm. Also they will give occupants enough time to escape or get rescued. A fire in a high rise building without fire sprinklers can have devastating consequences.
Fire Dangers
The majority of fires and resulting deaths and injuries take place in the home.
The smallest of fires can cause an incredible amount of damage to property.
Every day two people die and fifty people are injured in fires in the UK.
Fires become deadly in as little as three minutes
Fire does not discriminate, destroying lives, homes and businesses EVERY day
The British code of practice for Residential and Domestic fire sprinklers is the BS9251:2014
The type of building to be protected will determine the category of fire sprinkler to be installed.
Cat. One – 10 minute minimum water supply for:
Single family dwellings e.g houses, flats, maisionettes and transportable homes.
Houses of multiple occupation (HMOs)
Bed and breakfast accomodation.
Boarding houses
Blocks of flats 18 Meters or less in height.
Cat. Two – 30 minute minimum water supply for:
Blocks of flats greater than 18 Meters in height.
Small residential care homes with up to 10 residents.
Sheltered and extra care housing.
Cat. Three – 30 minute minimum water supply for:
Residential care homes with more than 10 residents
Dormitories
Hostels
The purpose of a residential fire sprinkler system, is to allow occupants time to escape a fire. They protect the people in the room of the fire and contain it while it’s small, or extinguish it completely. Fire sprinklers will limit the production of smoke and fumes, a major cause of fatalities.
Fire sprinklers save lives, limit casualties and lessen the damage created by fires.
A fire sprinkler is individually activated by heat
Smoke will not activate a fire sprinkler
Only the nearest sprinkler to the fire will activate
The centre of a fire sprinkler head contains a tempreature sensitive glass bulb. The sprinkler head will actitvate at around 68°C, releasing water onto the fire. Fire sprinklers will not respond to smoke, steam, dust or fumes.
It is very rare for a fire sprinkler to discharge by accident. The chances of a fire sprinkler accidentally activating, is in the region of 16 million to one.
Fire sprinklers have suppressed 12 social housing fires since 2010. Also 96% of fires in buildings with fire sprinklers, are extinguished or contained.
Fire sprinklers do not have to be an eyesore
A cover plate has three solder points inside it. When exposed to the heat of a fire, the solder melts away exposing the sprinkler head, allowing it to operate.
Cover plates can be made to match any paint colour, texture or even wood finish.
CPVC Fire Sprinkler Pipe Installations
Residential fire sprinklers have become cheaper and easier to install. Chloro-polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) have simplified fire sprinkler installations.
CPVC is a lightweight, thermoplastic piping material. Thermoplastic does not support combustion and if subjected to flames will only char. Designed for continuous use with a life expectancy of at least 50 years, CVPC does not corrode. The material is tested and approved by UL, FM and LPCB, as well as all leading insurers.
Fire sprinkler installers can fabricate (CPVC) systems much more easily than metal systems. Joints are made using a cold solvent welding process that requires only a few simple tools. Pipe lengths can be cut and prepared on the spot with a hand held (CPVC) pipe cutter. Unlike with metallic pipes, there is no need for oil or grease on the pipe. This minimises the risk of damage or mess to the property.
The stages of a CPVC fire sprinkler installation
Using CPVC, sprinkler systems can be quickly retro fitted into every kind of building. A typical 3 bedroom house, can be retro fitted with a fire sprinkler system, concealed within in a couple of days. Even listed or historic buildings can have a sprinkler systems installed. Retro fit installations will not compromise the integrity of the building.
Another benefit of retrofitting fire sprinklers is residents do not have to be re-housed while the system is installed. Even elderly or vunerable residents are able to remain in their homes while the system is being installed.
Retrofitting properties using (CPVC) is fast and simple, plus the cost is far less expensive than metallic systems.
You can rest assured that our fire sprinkler systems are installed to not only meet, but to exceed British standards.
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