Fire Safety And Sprinkler Product Information
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About Domestic Sprinklers
In 2000, a new industry was born in the UK. Residential and domestic sprinkler systems combine the knowledge and safety values from the commercial industry to produce a version that can be applied to the residential market. The systems were designed and installed using DD251: 2000 (Draft Document). Five years later, following in depth research by the BRE (British Research Establishment), hundreds of installations across the UK and direction by the FSA (Fire Sprinkler Association) the Draft Document has become British Standard BS9251:2005.
Residential and Domestic fire sprinklers are now written into the Building Regulations Approved Document B. This document was published in April 2007.
Fire sprinkler systems designed to BS9251:2005 have evolved from the US standard NFPA 13R/D, the principle of which are similar and have been installed over the past 25 years.
Sprinklers are installed throughout the building. Each sprinkler covers a predetermined floor area at maximum set distances from walls etc. Pipes are permanently charged with water, which comes from the town mains of fed by a pump from a tank. Each sprinkler is an independent unit, only releasing water if its thermal element is activated by heat from the fire. The element is set to operate at a fixed temperature 57 degrees C (not less than 30 degrees C above ambient temperature) which makes it very unlikely indeed to activate other than in fire conditions.
Sprinkler systems provide a significantly improved form of fire protection to any means included in the current Building Regulations.
The nature of this improved protection is as follows:
The effect of the water discharge is to:
Pipework (photograph 1)
The installation of the system fits into the construction process in a traditional first and second fix phase. BlazeMaster CPVC pipe and fitting compounds are made from chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) resin which has a LOI of 60. This means CPVC does not contribute to combustion as it cannot burn on its own. Fire Sprinkler Piping made from CPVC is corrosion resistant, easy to install, cost efficient and light weight. It does not need pre-fabrication and alterations can be handled on-site. Combined with an easy one-step solvent cement joining system, installation time is minimized - so that time and money can be saved.
Sprinkler head (photograph 2)
The fire sprinklers head used varies from one manufacturer to another, but the principal is the same. The head sits flush with the ceiling and the cover plate is self coloured to blend in with the ceiling finish. The heads are completely concealed.
Valve set (photograph 3)
The valve set is made up of a one-way check valve to eliminate water contamination. A full-bore check valve is used to shut the system down, a flow switch activates a built in alarm system, test point, drain off points and pressure gauge. This valve set is positioned under a cupboard or stair for ongoing access.
Alarm (photograph 4)
The fire alarm panel is positioned with the security or consumer panel, the alarm is activated by a flow switch which, in turn activates the internal sounder and external sounder strobe.
In 2000, a new industry was born in the UK. Residential and domestic sprinkler systems combine the knowledge and safety values from the commercial industry to produce a version that can be applied to the residential market. The systems were designed and installed using DD251: 2000 (Draft Document). Five years later, following in depth research by the BRE (British Research Establishment), hundreds of installations across the UK and direction by the FSA (Fire Sprinkler Association) the Draft Document has become British Standard BS9251:2005.
Residential and Domestic fire sprinklers are now written into the Building Regulations Approved Document B. This document was published in April 2007.
Fire sprinkler systems designed to BS9251:2005 have evolved from the US standard NFPA 13R/D, the principle of which are similar and have been installed over the past 25 years.
Sprinklers are installed throughout the building. Each sprinkler covers a predetermined floor area at maximum set distances from walls etc. Pipes are permanently charged with water, which comes from the town mains of fed by a pump from a tank. Each sprinkler is an independent unit, only releasing water if its thermal element is activated by heat from the fire. The element is set to operate at a fixed temperature 57 degrees C (not less than 30 degrees C above ambient temperature) which makes it very unlikely indeed to activate other than in fire conditions.
Sprinkler systems provide a significantly improved form of fire protection to any means included in the current Building Regulations.
The nature of this improved protection is as follows:
- It is automatic
- It detects the fire in its early stages, before the fire itself, or the resulting smoke production becomes life threatening. The sensitivity of the sprinklers is equivalent to that of fixed temperature heat detectors.
- It operats at the moment of detection - sounding an alarm internally throughout the building and externally to indicate the fire location, and discharging water at a predetermined rate over a defined area.
The effect of the water discharge is to:
- Immediately cool the atmosphere, reducing the circulation of any smoke and hot gases produced.
- Directly reduce the rate of burning of the ignited material.
- Directly reduce the production of smoke and hot gases from burning material.
- Wet surrounding materials, therefore limiting fire spread.
Pipework (photograph 1)
The installation of the system fits into the construction process in a traditional first and second fix phase. BlazeMaster CPVC pipe and fitting compounds are made from chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) resin which has a LOI of 60. This means CPVC does not contribute to combustion as it cannot burn on its own. Fire Sprinkler Piping made from CPVC is corrosion resistant, easy to install, cost efficient and light weight. It does not need pre-fabrication and alterations can be handled on-site. Combined with an easy one-step solvent cement joining system, installation time is minimized - so that time and money can be saved.
Sprinkler head (photograph 2)
The fire sprinklers head used varies from one manufacturer to another, but the principal is the same. The head sits flush with the ceiling and the cover plate is self coloured to blend in with the ceiling finish. The heads are completely concealed.
Valve set (photograph 3)
The valve set is made up of a one-way check valve to eliminate water contamination. A full-bore check valve is used to shut the system down, a flow switch activates a built in alarm system, test point, drain off points and pressure gauge. This valve set is positioned under a cupboard or stair for ongoing access.
Alarm (photograph 4)
The fire alarm panel is positioned with the security or consumer panel, the alarm is activated by a flow switch which, in turn activates the internal sounder and external sounder strobe.
