Sprinkler system facts given to a wide-ranging audience
MYTHS about sprinkler systems were dispelled by the Fire & Rescue Service, which has held live demonstrations at the fire station.
They were presented by head of fire safety Martin Lucas, who said that more than 80 people attended.
Four sessions were held over the course of a week and the audiences included builders, architects, property developers, health and safety representatives, insurers and loss adjusters.
‘It was my job to provide evidence-based facts on sprinklers and dispel some of the common myths surrounding them,’ said Mr Lucas.
‘The event was a great success and was very well received by all who attended.’
At the heart of the presentation was a life-size model of a room in which a fire breaks out and is quickly doused by the sprinkler.
The presentations were particularly timely given that a recent car fire in an underground car park was stopped from causing serious damage by a sprinkler system.
Among the facts shared with the audience by Mr Lucas was that modern systems can be concealed completely so are not unsightly, that they do not need tanks or pumps if the mains pressure is sufficient, and that they help reduce greenhouse gases emitted by a burning building by 98%.
He told them that as well as saving lives and properties, sprinkler systems are the only devices which can detect a fire, sound the alarm, call the fire service and extinguish or control a fire. In some cases a sprinkler system can contain and put a fire out before the fire service arrives.
. The event was sponsored by Oracle in association with Fire Guard Sprinklers CI and BTS.
Some common myths about sprinklers
Myth: Sprinklers will be activated by smoke and cause unnecessary water damage.
Fact: They are activated by a pre-set temperature that is usually about 56C, 67C or 78C. The chances of them malfunctioning are about 1 in 16m.
Myth: Every sprinkler activates when a fire is detected.
Fact: They will activate only in an area affected by fire.
Myth: Sprinklers are too expensive to install retrospectively.
Fact: The average cost of installing sprinklers is about £2,000 per property. Insurance premiums go down where sprinklers have been installed.
Myth: Sprinklers use too much water.
Fact: They use less water than a fire hose and cause less damage. Typically one sprinkler head discharges 55 litres per minute, while a firefighting pressure hose discharges 125LMP and a main jet more than 450LPM.
