Tips to Keep Your Sprinkler System Properly Maintained

Best Time To Install Your Fire Sprinkler System?

One of the most effective ways of ensuring safety in the event of a fire is to install a fire sprinkler system during the construction of a building or to add a system to an existing building through retrofitting. Retrofitting may be expensive, but the benefits derived in terms of safety and peace of mind are often worth the cost. In new homes, however, a system may be a minor cost to bear and a great asset to have over the years once they are kept in working condition through regular maintenance.

Proper Maintenance is Paramount

Proper Maintenance of a fire sprinkler system requires training as well as careful attention to detail. As an owner, you may achieve some basic aspects of maintenance on your own between regular visits by a certified technician. Your first aim of maintaining your system would be to ensure that all occupants of the building are aware of its function and treat it as such. The use of paint or hanging decorations on the sprinkler head itself is not permitted and these ground rules should be passed on to any decorators or other personnel who may not be regular users but may need to make aesthetic changes to the room. The heads of the sprinklers should also be generally off-limits to unnecessary contact as an accidental pat may land with enough force to damage something internal without the user’s knowledge.

Frequent Inspection

Even without human interference a sprinkler head may become obstructed by dust, spiderwebs and other small particles so these should be looked at carefully at least once a month to ensure that they are clear and can facilitate the free flow of water in the event of an emergency. When checking these things also look about for general differences in the appearance of your system. If something seems different and causes you concern you should call in the company that put the system in for maintenance or another reputable firm if they are unavailable.

You Need A Professional

Professional maintenance will begin with the arrival of your fire service technician who will check the area the system occupies for anything that may keep your sprinklers from functioning. The technician may then take a look at each sprinkler head to assess if it is properly placed, capable of functioning and properly labeled. This will also been done for the associated valves. Tests will be done on the water pressure delivered to the sprinklers to ensure that it is adequate to put out a blaze.

The Alarms

The Sprinkler alarm is a vital part of the usability of the device and if it were to fail the rest of the system would be useless to you in a disaster so this part of the sprinkler system will be carefully checked by your technician as well. Having done this and other tests, they will give you any recommendations on how to remedy any issues they have encountered with your sprinkler system and record the details of the inspection for further reference. With regular upkeep your fire sprinkler system can be counted on to keep your property safe for years

This article discusses some of the methods a user can employ to upkeep or maintain a fire sprinkler system. These should be done in conjunction with regular professional inspections and maintenance.

Yours In Fire Safety

Alex

Choosing the Right Type of Fire Sprinkler System

 

Wet pipe system

It’s composed of steel pipes filled with water. The water in the pipes is usually under moderate pressure; therefore, when the sprinkler head is activated, the pressurised water in the pipes is immediately released and as a result there is a faster reaction time.

In addition to providing faster reaction time the wet pipe system is also very simple and reliable. The system is also relatively cheap, easy to install, and requires low maintenance.

Although, this type of fire safety system has these advantages, it’s not ideal for areas that are very cold. This is because the pipes tend to freeze in cold areas. The pipes are also not recommended in residential environments because they are prone to accidental leaks which can bring about flooding.

Dry pipe system

The pipes in this system are filled with air under pressure and the water is held back by the control valve which is usually located outside the protected area. When the sprinkler head is activated, the valve releases the compressed air through the sprinkler head. Once all the air has been released, water fills the system.

You should note that this system has a slower reaction time. The good side with the system is that it releases large amount of water; therefore, fire is extinguished fast.

Another good thing is that you don’t have to worry about flooding in case there is leakage in the pipes. These systems are used in areas where the wet and alternate systems can’t be used.

Alternate systems

These systems are usually filled with water for the summer period then when the season is over, they are drained down and filled with air for the winter period. These systems are ideal for underground car parks and other buildings that are not usually heated.

Pre-action systems

These are variations of the dry and wet pipe systems. These systems must be triggered twice before water is dispensed from the sprinkler head. The first trigger allows water into the pipes while the second trigger releases the water and pushes it to through the sprinkler in order to extinguish the fire.

The good side with this system is that it provides protection against false sprinkler head activation.

These are the main types of fire sprinkler systems. To ensure that you have the right system installed, you should consult the a reputable company, like Complete Fire and Pumps, your experts in fire protection systems.

Yours In Safety

Alex

Lessons Learnt for Fire Safety Systems

 

Lessons Learnt

The Grenfell fire disaster in London serves as a stark reminder about why properly installed and maintained fire protection systems are so critical,  the extraordinary speed at which the fire spread, is widely believed to have been aided by the building’s recently added exterior cladding. The catastrophe is similar to the 2014 Lacrosse Tower fire in Melbourne that also saw flames spreading up façades at a devastatingly rapid rate. However, the big difference between the two cases is that in the Lacrosse building fire, the fire sprinkler system played a major part in zero lives being lost despite a similar non-conforming cladding product actually fuelling the fire.

Most business owners are aware of the devastating consequences that a fire outbreak may bring to their businesses. Because of this, they strive to protect their company and employees by installing high quality fire safety systems.

Benefits of Home Fire Sprinklers

Fire sprinklers are designed to detect temperature differences in indoor spaces, automatically  activating irrespective of whether the building is occupied or otherwise. They protect even when the occupants are away. They do not react to false alarms, but sound an alert when there is a significant rise in temperature, enough to trigger water flow.

As the system tends to instantly identify and control fires at their initial stages, sprinklers help minimize damage by preventing fires from spreading. Both the heat and smoke from large fires can prove quite devastating.

Large buildings, such as high rise, benefit from installing sprinkler systems as they localise the damage, contrary to popular belief that sprinkler systems can cause extensive damage with a generous spray of water. Fitting sprinklers will help stop the fire right at the source, preventing it from spreading and causing major damage or loss of life. In case multiple sprinklers are installed in a large space, the one closest to the fire will be activated first.

 

How Does The Sprinkler System Work?

Understanding how fire sprinklers work will help understanding that water damage from these systems aren’t as costly as the damage caused by unattended fires.

Each sprinkler head holds a glass container filled with liquid glycerin, which expands when heated.

A fire in the room heats the air, forcing it up towards the ceiling. Temperature of air continues to increase with rising flames.

When temperature reaches anywhere around 57-73 degrees celsius, the expanding glycerin causes the glass container to break, activates the sprinkler head, and opens a valve in the hidden plumbing to release a focused downward spray of water to extinguish the fire.

These systems are intended to quickly douse the fire, failing which they anyway buy enough time to respond to the emergency.

How to Choose The Right Fire Sprinkler System?

There are basically two types of fire sprinkler systems to choose from — the wet pipe and dry pipe. However, the task is better done with the help of a reliable, professional fire safety consultant.

The wet pipe system comprises a set of interconnected pipes filled with water at high pressure, which is released instantly when the sprinkler head is activated. 

The dry pipe system, on the other hand, has compressed air stored in relatively larger pipes. Activating the sprinkler first releases compressed air, causing water to be forcibly drawn into these pipes and then released to put out the fire.

According to the National Fire Industry Association, there are 3 major strategies, some have of which have already been regulated..

First, more widespread public fire safety education is needed on how to prevent fires and how to avoid serious injury or death if a fire occurs. Information on the common causes of fatal home fires should be used in the design of fire safety education messages.

Second, homeowners or property managers need to install and maintain smoke alarms and residents must develop and practice escape plans.

Third, wider use of residential sprinklers must be aggressively pursued, which would require discussions with fire authorities and water delivery bodies.

An Australian National Fire Safety Commission can become the next step in Australia becoming a world-leading fire protection nation that offers genuine fire protection to all of the community.

If you would like to know more, please contact Complete Fire and Pumps leaders in fire safety systems.

Yours in Fire Safety 

Alex

Commercial Fire Safety Solutions for Your Business

 

Fire Safety Solutions and What They Mean For Your Business

Commercial fire safety solutions can help a business operate safely. Such firefighting solutions involve using unique combinations consisting of services and products that help in creating customized solutions that go a long way, in protecting buildings, factories, equipment and properties, but more importantly people. This kind of protection can provide round the clock assurance that in case of a fire, adequate measures are in place.

The Humble Extinguisher

Portable fire extinguishers are essential items of commercial fire safety equipment because they help in reducing damage to a property and they also help in preventing injuries during a fire. Knowing your fire classifications goes a long way to ensuring your property is covered with the right extinguisher for the job. Training in fire extinguisher application, also plays an integral part of your commercial fire safety solution. 

Fire Detection Systems

Detection and alarm are other major components of commercial fire safety equipment. These items will immediately inform a person or business about a fire breaking out. The development of fire detection technologies has made it possible for modern detection and alarm devices to cover each and every different kind of hazard. Some examples of these devices include items such as heat actuated devices, cutting edge flame detection devices and smoke detectors.

Fire and Explosion Protection

Fire and explosion suppression devices are very important for those who are looking to ensure commercial fire safety. These devices can be used on land, in vehicles as well as for marine applications. Using state of the art devices help in extinguishing flames before these get out of control and this in turn helps ensure that the business is protected to the maximum against all forms of fires and explosions.

FireFighter and Control Devices

Fire fighting and fire control devices can provide a firefighter with invaluable assistance in helping to extinguish a fire at an early stage. There are a variety of such devices to choose from including different kinds of hoses, foam concentrates and also fixed/mobile systems that help in delivering fire extinguishing agents to a fire.

Automatic Suppression Systems

Automatic fire suppression systems can provide invaluable assistance in protecting critical equipment and other electrical and technical systems. These items of commercial fire safety equipment can help in detecting a fire by making use of very precise temperature sensitivity which allows for quicker and timely reaction that helps in putting out a fire before it gets out of control. Such detection systems can be run through very complex and even very simple enclosures and will always provide timely detection of a fire.

It’s All In A Name

Dry powder fire extinguishers are very handy and can be used to fight any kind of fire that involves flammable liquids, solids, electrical apparatus and even gases. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are also well suited for use against fires that may have affected flammable liquids and even electrical apparatus. Foam fire extinguishers, on the other hand, can do a lot to control fires involving wood, flammable liquids, paper and even textile but are not to be used for putting out cooking oil fires. 

The above is a brief outline of what your commercial fire safety system should look like, but it all depends on your property and the regulations that you must comply with. That’s where Complete Fire and Pumps can help, we are only a phone call away to provide expert advice and peace of mind.

Yours in Commercial Fire Safety

Alex