About Fire Sprinkler Systems
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection method. Unlike passive methods which contains a fire and stops it from spreading, an active system requires action to be taken to detect, alert and contain a fire.
While looking at an automatic fire sprinkler system while walking in a shopping center, or building, the piping and sprinklers may look easy, however, there is much more to it and definitely not as straight forward as it seems. The installation comprises of fire pumps, water storage tanks, control valves sets, sprinkler heads, flow switches, pressure switches, pipework and valves.
There is a lot involved in each component of a fire sprinkler system, the type of pump, hydraulic calculations, flows, pressures, quantity of sprinklers and their placement, and the list goes on.
It takes knowledge and experience to ensure this vital active method of fire protection is installed correctly.
Types of Sprinkler Systems
There are 4 types of sprinkler protection systems that are permissible for installation:
- Wet System
- Dry System
- Pre-action
- Deluge
The system is very much dependent on the type of warehouse or building and what the goods being protected consist of. For example, a warehouse storing electronic equipment such as TV’s, computers and server rooms, need a dry fire protection system to reduce potential damage to property.
Wet System
The pipes are filled with pressurized water so that when a fire occurs, water is immediately discharged to extinguish the fire.
Dry System
The pipes are filled with pressurized nitrogen or air to keep the water at a riser, therefore pipes are not filled with water but activated when sprinklers are exposed to high temperatures.
Pre-action System
The concept is similar to that of a dry system except that, as opposed to pressurized nitrogen or air to withhold water from piping, an electrically operated valve, known as the pre-action valve, is used.
Deluge System
This too has a dry pipe concept except water is stored underside a control valve, a dedicated water supply and a sprinkler operated detection system. These are usually installed in high hazard areas where fires can spread rapidly, with open sprinkler heads to allow for a large amount of water to be dumped on the hazard.
Who Needs a Fire Sprinkler System?
While not all commercial warehouses or buildings require an automated sprinkler protection system, those over 2500m2 do. Where a building is required to have a sprinkler system, any concealed space, such as a floor void, ceiling void or roof void, which has a height that exceeds 800 mm and an area of compartment of more than 100 m2 above any ceiling or an area of compartment of more than 500 m2 below any raised floor, must be equipped with a sprinkler system.
Will All Sprinklers Activate at the Same Time in the Event of a Fire?
The typical answer is no, with the exception of a deluge system which is not as common as the others.
While watching an action movie, the good guy always activates all the sprinklers in the building for effect, but this doesn’t particularly happen in real life, and it is important this myth is corrected with clients to avoid confusion or impractical expectations.
Sprinkler heads are heat sensitive and will activate individually with temperatures 63oC and above.
There are various sprinkler heads available on the market and as with the type of sprinkler system that is chosen based on the type of warehouse, so is the sprinkler head used.
Can a Warehouse Be Partially Protected Without Risk?
According to the ASIB Twelve Edition Rules, the single largest cause of sprinkler failure is partial protection. Partial protection is defined as a portion of premises being sprinkler protected with communicating sections that are not.
Risks of partial protection include:
- Secondary Fires: heat radiating from protected to unprotected areas of the premises. This heat can spread back into the protected area causing excessive sprinkler operation. This can result in a lowering of available water flow and pressure, excessive fire, water and smoke damage and probable loss of the premises.
- Unprotected Fires: can spread into the protected area causing unnecessary sprinkler operation and may overwhelm the sprinkler system installed.
During the Elite Fire sprinkler quiz last month, one of the questions was related to sprinkler failure.
65% of voters agreed that partial protection is the single largest cause of sprinkler failure according to ASIB.
It is important that we keep this top of mind that when faced with questions like these when a particular client wants to save on costs by only partially protecting a building or warehouse, it is our responsibility to inform them of the dangers.
Don’t Let Your Insurance Clamp Down on You
Often, we ignore the importance of fire protection equipment, fire sprinklers, smoke detection and suppression, and maintenance, until it’s urgent. A customer recently found himself in this situation. Don’t let this be you!
Realistic Scenario
Your building has undergone alterations since the fire protection has been installed. The insurance company and risk assessors request your fire clearance certificate which is not updated.
To continue cover, your insurance company requests a fire protection inspection accompanied by a report. The report concludes that a new section of your building requires fire sprinklers, additional fire handheld equipment, and the last company placed some fire sprinklers in the wrong position, which you now must correct. The insurance company urges you to get a fire protection company or fire consultant to correct all issues found in the report. The insurance company then stops your cover or increases the premium drastically until all items have been addressed according to Sprinkler Regulations of South Africa and Fire Protection, SANS 10287 and SANS 10400:T respectively.
The inspectors have to check their availability, the fire protection company has to await the outcome of the report before work can be carried out, and you are stressed as each action or step takes time, leaving you without insurance cover.
How Often Should My Fire Sprinkler System Be Inspected?
According to ASIB, fire sprinkler systems should be inspected biannually by a suitably qualified individual or company.
During the quiz week last month, only 16% of voters correctly answered this question.
It is for this reason that we continue to educate and create awareness on maintenance of fire equipment and remind everyone what the requirements are in South Africa to avoid or reduce the risk of malfunction of fire sprinkler systems, loss of lives and damage to property by ensuring all systems are in good working condition in accordance with the regulations.
With 50 years of combined experience, Elite Fire Protection is capable of ensuring that your fire sprinkler system is installed, maintained and serviced so that you, your building/property and your people are safe from the devastating effects of a fire.
