Fortunately, sprinkler heads function individually. Most of the time, fires can be completely extinguished after just one or two sprinklers activate.
This allows water damage to be confined to the small area where the fire started. Plus, since fire sprinklers douse fires with about six times less water than a fire hose, their quick action is actually less damaging to your property than a visit from the fire department. Whether you need fire sprinklers installed , tested, inspected or repaired, contact Guardian Fire Protection today. At Guardian Fire Protection, we know how fire sprinklers work. Contact Us. Let us know how we can help you and a Guardian representative will contact you within 24 hours.
Schedule Service Today. Contact Us Today! Powered by Nearby Now. For Emergency Service The only exception is the deluge sprinkler system that is not activated by heat at all. Instead, a fire alarm releases the water and a valve must be manually closed to stop the flow of water.
Wet pipe, dry pipe, and pre-action sprinklers all use pressurized air. In wet pipe sprinklers, pressure in the pipes ensures the water is delivered quickly. In dry pipe and pre-action sprinkler systems, pressurized air is used to fill the pipes instead of water filling the pipes. Once the air is released, due to a fire being detected, the water then flows through the pipes. It is a myth that once a fire is detected all fire sprinklers go off.
If you require a sprinkler system where all the sprinkler heads go off at the same time, then you need a deluge sprinkler system. Deluge sprinkler systems release water from every sprinkler head once a fire alarm goes off and are used in facilities with flammable or combustible liquids where the threat of fire is extremely high.
Keystone Fire Protection Co. Other fire sprinkler systems have minimal clean-up and cause little damage due to the localized response such as the Hi-Fog Water Mist system offered by Keystone Fire Protection Co.
Fire sprinkler systems should be inspected and tested according to NFPA Weekly or monthly, gauges should be inspected. Quarterly, alarm devices and control valves should be inspected. Bracings, pipes, fittings, and signings should be inspected annually.
Every five years, an internal inspection is required. If a sprinkler head is falsely triggered, an alarm will sound, but no water will be released, since the pipes remain dry until the second trigger has been activated.
Although sprinkler heads are not likely to accidentally activate -- sprinkler heads have a one in 16 million false activation rate -- pre-action systems are very popular when dealing with sensitive property like in a museum or library [source: USFA ]. In deluge systems, like the pre-action system, water enters the pipes when triggered by a heat or smoke detector, separate from the sprinkler heads. There may also be a manual function, where pushing a button or pulling a cord activates the system.
The sprinkler heads in a deluge system are open, meaning they don't have a trigger function and are activated simultaneously.
Deluge systems are usually installed in chemical plants or other areas where the spread of fire would be exceptionally hazardous. The widespread use of fire sprinkler systems and the resulting innovations are no doubt a result of laws, regulations and building codes that require their installation.
We'll explore existing codes and the possible need for home regulations on the next few pages. Fire sprinkler systems have been in use for more than years. This is no doubt a result of codes and regulations, requiring the use of these systems in public buildings.
Codes and regulations that require the installation of fire sprinkler systems were first put into place in the s [source: Fleming ]. Before then, builders mainly installed sprinklers to reduce property loss and insurance costs. After collecting staggering statistics comparing the fire death rate in sprinkler-protected buildings versus non-protected, the fire sprinkler industry began a push for updated building codes to require the installation of these systems. Today, building codes in many countries require the installation of fire sprinkler systems, although the United States has the highest record of systems installed.
Once adopted, these generic codes are locally amended. In the United States, building codes are set by city and state governments. Code sets usually require the installation of fire sprinkler systems across the board for new construction of high rises and commercial buildings.
Retro-fit codes are becoming more popular. Some of the old, existing building types that now require sprinklers include hotels, nursing homes and dormitories. You can find out more about your area's codes for fire sprinkler systems by visiting your local government's Web site. Or visit www. The USFA Web site has many helpful resources as well, including a list of fire sprinkler protected hotels.
Unfortunately, even though most fire deaths occur in homes, codes have not yet been put into effect requiring fire sprinkler system installation in single-family homes. We'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of installing home sprinkler systems on the next page.
In , and just a year after the "unsinkable" Titanic sank, the story "absolutely fireproof" Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta was built without a fire sprinkler system, smoke detectors or fire escape ladders. Then more than 30 years later in December , a massive fire broke out in the hotel, killing guests, including 30 teenage boys, who had no means of escape.
The tragedy, which is still the deadliest hotel fire in the United States, led to immediate national fire and safety codes that are still strictly enforced [source: NFPA].
According to the American Fire Sprinkler Association, a home fire occurs every 79 seconds. A National Fire Protection Association study reports that 3, deaths a year can be attributed to fires in homes [source: Figueroa ]. Given these startling statistics and what we've already learned about the life- and property-saving characteristics of fire sprinkler system installation, it's hard to believe that less than 2 percent of homes in the United States have fire sprinkler systems [source: Hall].
So why are homeowners hesitant to install a system that could save their lives and property? While aesthetics shouldn't outweigh life safety, one reason many single-family homeowners don't want to install sprinkler systems is that they believe sprinkler heads are an eye sore.
Fortunately, new designs for residential systems are actually quite undetectable, and many can be installed flush to the ceiling. Flush sprinkler heads are hidden behind a metal panel that hides the sprinkler head, but still allows it to spray normally.
And residential sprinklers are smaller than commercial ones and require less water. They're typically dry pipe systems, providing added protection against potential water damage that could occur during home improvements or other home accidents.
Additionally, since the development of residential systems is a newer concept, their designs include many new innovations like improved sensitivity , making them faster than commercial sprinklers.
Perhaps the most common myth about home sprinkler systems is that they're expensive. Not only is the installation of a home fire sprinkler system affordable, it can drastically decrease your home owner's insurance premium.
Home systems will only continue to become more cost-effective as they become more common. Don't be surprised if you're required to install sprinkler systems in your home at some point in the future. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe.
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