Fire sprinklers are your most reliable soldiers in the war against accidental fires. That’s why ensuring your system is always in working order is important.
The most common type of fire sprinkler is a wet pipe system with water constantly in the pipes. But other types of systems exist, including dry and pre-action.
What is a Fire Sprinkler System?
Fire sprinkler systems Southern California consists of a water supply with a network of pipes and fire sprinklers that activate when heat is detected. Municipal water can be supplied for smaller systems, from independent water storage tanks and fire pumps for larger installations.
Smoke triggers the fire sprinkler system but does not activate them all at once. That is a common misconception, especially since air currents can carry smoke upward.
Sprinklers are not expensive to maintain, and a building owner or facility manager can easily inspect them. They only require annual inspections to ensure they are working properly. Additionally, if you have a fire sprinkler system, it can greatly increase the sale value of your property. Homeowners are increasingly requesting this fire safety feature during new construction and renovations. They also save money on homeowner’s insurance. A home sprinkler system can reduce property loss by up to 65 percent and prevent deaths.
How Does a Fire Sprinkler System Work?
Sprinkler systems comprise piping, water supply, and fire sprinkler heads. They control or extinguish a fire by automatically discharging water upon detecting a fire. There are four types of fire sprinkler systems: wet pipe, dry pipe, pre-action, and deluge.
Wet pipe fire sprinkler systems have water in the pipes at all times and are the most common type of fire sprinkler system. The water is kept in the pipes by either a fusible metal link or a glass bulb that contains a heat-sensitive liquid.
What are the Benefits of Having a Fire Sprinkler System?
Sprinkler systems save lives, minimize property damage and allow a business to reopen as quickly as possible after a fire. Sprinklers are also a great way to help lower insurance premiums.
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire suppression system that can be triggered by a fire detection panel and will release water from a network of pipes in the event of a fire. The water may be from a public or municipal water supply, a dedicated fire pump, or in the case of wet pipe systems, a store of water kept inside a separate tank from the tanks used to supply occupants with drinking water (domestic water).
A sprinkler system will control the spread of the fire and can even extinguish it before firefighters arrive. This can dramatically reduce the risk of civilian death and injury and decrease the rate at which firefighters are injured during firefighting operations.
How Do I Get a Fire Sprinkler System?
Fire sprinkler systems can be installed during construction or retrofitted into an existing home. They typically require minimal maintenance, two visits per year by the installer, and regular visual inspections. The cost can be recovered in about ten years, based on reduced insurance premiums and avoided property damage.
In addition to installing sprinklers in new homes, many states and cities require them in residential rental properties for tenants’ safety. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue recently spent £3.5 million on fitting fire sprinklers in about 650 flats for the region’s most vulnerable residents. Generally speaking, local AHJs require anyone who installs, alters, or repairs fire protection system components to be certified, and the work has to be done by qualified professionals.