Fire Sprinkler Systems Save Lives

Fire sprinkler systems are the crucial factor for how much damage a building suffers during a fire.  Over the years, we’ve seen first-hand how a properly installed fire sprinkler system helps to keep fire under control and the people inside safe.

Fire sprinkler systems are essential to keeping people and property protected in the event of a fire, so it’s important that business owners install fire sprinklers in their new or existing buildings. With so many fire sprinkler companies to choose from, which one should you go with? Because these fire sprinkler systems are so important, it’s good to choose the company wisely.

Choosing Trusted Fire Sprinkler Companies

Fire sprinklers cool and moisten the air around it, stopping it from heating up. This helps prevent a fire that can burn your property down. Installing them requires technical expertise and knowledge. You should hire fire sprinkler contractors for the design and installation to guarantee that your system is functional, safe, and effective.

Aside from the fire sprinkler company’s services, it is vital to consider the years they have been working in the field. You can check their website or learn more about them by talking to their previous clients. The fire sprinkler company’s years of experience will help you determine if they are the right ones for you. A fire sprinkler company with a lot of experience is a company that knows what they are doing.

How to Choose A Fire Sprinkler Installer

Choosing a qualified fire sprinkler contractor is the critical first step to ensuring a fire protection system will function for many years ahead. As with all services in residential and commercial construction, the range of service providers varies widely.

Whether you are a homeowner looking to retrofit a residential fire sprinkler system, a developer looking to install sprinkler systems in new construction, or a commercial building owner look to upgrade your fire security a certified company with experienced fire sprinkler installers is best.

Some fire sprinkler installers specialize in single-family homes, apartments, assisted living facilities and others. Others focus broadly on commercial buildings, ranging from offices to shopping centers to hospitals and countless others. 

Fire sprinklers protect lives and property. You want to make sure people have plenty of time to escape in a fire and prevent the fire from spreading and damaging your property. A water-based fire sprinkler system is usually the best option. These are the most common type of systems for residential and commercial use because of their simplicity; they are easy to install, maintain, and even modify.

In regions that are susceptible to corrosion or freezing, like cold-storage warehouses and loading docks, a dry pipe fire sprinkler system may be the right choice. Dry pipe systems are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen instead of water. While still using water as a suppressant, the pressurized air is held back by a valve. When a sprinkler head actuates, the drop in air pressure causes the valve to open and water flows into the sprinkler piping to fight the flames. These systems are typically more expensive because of their complexity but are well worth the investment in corrosive or freezing environments.

If you are mainly concerned about protecting high-value assets rather than extending the time occupants need to escape the building, you will want to consider the use of a special hazard fire protection system. Special hazard systems use materials other than water, like pre-action or gases, to suppress fires. They are usually installed in areas where water damage to the asset is a concern, like in a data center due to the special suppressant material used and the intricacy of the system. 

What Happens When an Automatic Fire Sprinkler Goes Off?

When an automatic fire sprinkler system in a commercial building is triggered, it sends an alarm signal to a monitoring company. The alarm company then communicates the alert to the responding fire department. The fire department responds and manages any remaining issues such as shutting down the power to the building, making sure there are no flare-ups or, in some cases, fully extinguishing a fire. In the past, the automatic fire sprinkler industry has advertised its product as equivalent to having a firefighter on-site 24 hours a day.

By having a fully functional automatic sprinkler system, the risk of a fire spreading is greatly diminished. Many factors contribute or limit exposure to the danger of fire.

Most things will burn when hot enough, even the floor covering. Some think that if a building itself is non-combustible there is no fear of fire. Remember, however, that the contents of a building can burn, even to the point of producing enough heat to affect the metal or concrete supporting structures of a non-combustible building.

The water discharging from the sprinkler head will likely cause some water damage that will need to be cleaned up. However, compared to the loss caused by an uncontrolled fire and a deluge of water from firefighter hoses, the cost is minimal. The sprinkler head could go off for a considerable amount of time and still discharge less water than just a couple of minutes from a firefighter’s 2½-inch hose line.

Most automatic fire sprinkler systems are designed to control the spread of a fire long enough to allow the fire department to arrive and fully extinguish the flames. In reality, they are often more effective. They often can fully extinguish a fire so when firefighters arrive, they only need to check for hot spots and vent any remaining smoke. 

Essential Fire Sprinkler Riser components

There are very few unnecessary parts in a fire sprinkler riser: a single broken sprinkler head, pipe, valve, or pipe hanger can have deadly implications for a building’s occupants. Still, there may be nowhere in a sprinkler system with so many required components per linear foot as at the fire sprinkler riser. In systems both large and small, fire sprinkler riser assemblies stop pressure from escaping the system, make repairs easier, and control the movement of water to sprinkler heads.

In part one of our look at fire sprinkler risers, we talk about important components found in NFPA 13, 13D, and 13R risers. We explain which parts you’re likely to find at the riser and how fire code requirements for residential and commercial assemblies vary.

Fire Sprinkler Piping choices

CPVC Fire Sprinkler Piping Products are chemically formulated for exceptional performance in fire sprinkler piping systems. The properties of the material including temperature capabilities, low flame spread, etc. and the pipe dimensions provide unique advantages in fire sprinkler piping applications.

Product Characteristics- CPVC fire sprinkler pipe is manufactured to SDR 13.5 dimensions in strict accordance with ASTM F442. The use of CPVC produced to these dimensions provides a tough, smooth, large internal diameter piping which causes low friction loss. Exceptional hydraulic characteristics will allow the use of smaller diameter systems that still meets the water distribution needs of the sprinkler system. Although classified as a rigid system, the pipe’s natural flexibility and light weight simplify installation.

Approvals- CPVC Fire Sprinkler Piping Products are designed and Listed for a rated working pressure of 175 psi @ 150°F for wet pipe systems. They are listed by Underwriters Laboratories for use in Light Hazard occupancies NFPA 13, and Residential occupancies NFPA 13R & 13D. The listing also includes use in Return Air Plenums under NFPA 90A, use in Underground Service Mains NFPA 24, and use in Exposed systems with certain restrictions.

What Are The Best Fire Protection Companies Near Me?

Choosing a fire protection company to team up with can be a difficult task. Each company offers different services at different prices with different experiences. So how do you know which is truly the best? Which will help you get the best services without crazy high costs?

Some fire protection companies specialize in only one or a few services. They might do alarms but not sprinklers. When you outfit your business with fire protection systems, you want the company you work with to be able to provide every service you need, not just some of them. In fact, it is also financially smart to hire just one company instead of multiple, as working with multiple companies tends to be more expensive. The best fire protection company will have expertise in every relevant area of fire protection.

Fire sprinkler head protection

There are three different types of fire sprinkler head protection.

1.     An extra heavy fire sprinkler head protection like SprinkGuard.

2.     A UL listed fire sprinkler head protection wire head guard.

3.     A economical fire sprinkler head protection wire head guard.

Physical damage to a fire sprinkler head is the most common reason for a fire sprinkler to unnecessarily discharge. Whether it’s a rogue basketball in a school gym or a clumsy forklift operator in a warehouse, accidental discharge happens.

No amount of physical protection can stop all unintentional discharges. But adding fire sprinkler head guards to a pendent, upright, or horizontal sidewall sprinkler can provide a critical layer of protection.

Automatic fire sprinklers contain small, fragile parts that allow water to escape when nearby temperatures rise. Some have a liquid-filled bulb that erupts at a given temperature. Others have a small metal link, called a fusible link, that falls from the sprinkler head when the metal fusing it to the frame melts.

Small collisions can lead to costly cleanups. Schools, malls, hotels, and other places flooded by unwanted fire sprinkler discharge have paid thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to repair the damage.

Many of these incidents could have been avoided if the fire sprinklers had guards. A head guard, or sprinkler cage, uses steel wire or another substance to put a protective barrier around the sprinkler head.

Each fire sprinkler cage connects around the base of the sprinkler frame, providing an inch or more of defensive metal wiring around the sprinkler. Some fire sprinkler cages are designed for use with one specific type and size of fire sprinkler. Others can protect sprinklers across multiple brands and in multiple sizes.

Early Suppression Fast Response, ESFR Fire Sprinklers

Early suppression fast response ESFR fire sprinkler systems are specifically designed to provide large volumes of water to suppress or stop the spread of fire. ESFR fire sprinklers are engineered for specific fire hazards, special hazards, hazardous materials, explosive or chemicals anywhere there is high fire danger.

Large fires create heat sometimes hot enough to evaporate water discharged from normal spray pattern sprinkler heads. Early suppression fast response ESFR fire sprinklers however are designed during a fire incident to disperse small water droplets to cool the atmosphere and larger water droplets may penetrate the fire plume in attempts to extinguish, suppress or contain the rapid spread of fire.

Top Things to Look for to Find the Best Fire Sprinkler Contractors

• Qualified Expertise: while this may seem obvious, confirming that a fire sprinkler contractor is qualified is an important first step.

• Check with your local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) and state requirements for contractors and technicians working on fire sprinkler systems. Contact some of them and ask questions like:

• Are you licensed to work in this field in this area, and can I have your license number?

• Do you have the necessary certifications required by the local government?

• How long have you been in the business?

• Are you bonded and insured?

Just because a company has the necessary license does not mean they have the experience you need for your fire sprinkler design and installation.

Understanding hydraulic requirements in NFPA 13D

A common question we receive through NFPA's technical advisory services for NFPA 13D, Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, involves the hydraulic calculation of the system. Unlike NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13D does not require full-blown hydraulic calculations that assess friction loss of every fitting and linear foot of pipe.

One of the goals of the NFPA 13D technical committee is to encourage the addition of systems in both new construction and retrofit installations. As such, requiring a difficult and time-consuming hydraulic calculation system would add cost to the project and in some cases may prevent otherwise qualified designers from being engaged with the standard.

NFPA 13D offers two simple advances to these calculations. These procedures are described in both an eight-step and 12-step process that require reduced mathematical computation, while still providing the reassurance that there will be sufficient flow and pressure for the particular system being installed.

These calculations are conservative but are simple to implement and not time-consuming. The time savings can be seen both on the design side and on the plan review side. Reviewing the hydraulics for a 13D system for a municipal plan reviewer is a much simpler undertaking than that of the NFPA 13 approach.

Major components of residential fire sprinkler systems

Residential fire sprinkler systems have a range of components, and the complexity of any given set-up depends on several factors, including if the system is standalone or multipurpose; the water supply to the sprinklers and whether it naturally provides sufficient pressure; the pipe used; and any requirements of your local or state government.

We established how these residential fire sprinkler systems work, explained the two major types of home systems and provided guidance on finding a qualified installation contractor. In this piece, we will begin to examine the major components of residential fire sprinkler systems, including special considerations that homeowners should be aware of when installing a system.

Dry Fire Sprinkler System

A dry fire sprinkler system may not be what you imagine. It doesn’t use dry chemical substances to suppress a fire.

Rather, a dry fire sprinkler system holds pressurized air and/or nitrogen within the non-heated parts of the sprinkler pipes. That way, if and when temperatures drop below freezing, the pipes are usually not at risk of freezing.

How They Work

The way dry pipe valves work is the pressurized air or nitrogen holds a valve closed that separates the sprinkler piping from the water provided. During a fire, when the heat forces the sprinkler head to discharge, the air pressure drops. As soon as the air pressure drops, the water pressure forces dry-pipe valve open and releases the water, which will flow to the activated sprinkler head.

Pros & Cons

The advantages of a dry pipe system are that they are perfect for use in buildings where temperatures will reach freezing (corresponding to parking garages, loading docks, walk-in fridges, and many others).

However, they require a solid and dependable air supply and the system is more difficult to install and maintain, it is costlier, and has more design restrictions.

Also, they’ll have as much as a 60 second delay from when the sprinklers are initially activated to when the water reaches the sprinkler heads and begins suppressing the fire.

Which Fire Sprinkler Head Cover Plate Do I Need?

If you have a fire sprinkler cover plate to replace and you’re wondering which one you need, you’ve landed on the right page. Whether your existing sprinkler cover is missing, damaged, or painted over, in this blog you’ll learn the simple steps required to find the correct cover plate (hint: the manufacturer is key, and it has a little to do with dimensions) and replace it with ease.

Know the Cover You Need? Tyco, Reliable, Viking, Victaulic Covers.

Let’s start with a quick overview. A cover plate is a decorative piece of metal connected to a copper frame by temperature-responsive solder that covers a concealed sprinkler in a ceiling. A cover plate simply screws into the concealed fire sprinkler to provide aesthetic benefits and protect the sprinkler from dirt, dust, and debris, similar to escutcheons (learn the difference between an escutcheon and a cover plate). The temperature-responsive solder reacts to a specified temperature, usually about 20 degrees lower than the sprinkler’s activation temperature. After the solder melts, the decorative plate falls to the floor, exposing the sprinkler head.

What is Brycer Compliance Engine

The Brycer Compliance Engine is a simple, Internet-based tool for Fire Prevention Bureaus, Water Departments, and Building Departments to track and follow inspection and testing code compliance, reduce false alarm activity, ensure clean drinking water, and provide a safer community.

Brycer Compliance Engine provides a secure cloud environment in which third-party contractors that inspect, test, and maintain fire protection systems backflows and elevators, submit their reports via BRYCER’s web portal directly to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, facilitating a more efficient review, tracking, and follow-up process with occupants to correct deficiencies and maintain systems.

Brycer Compliance Engine also provides proactive services, in addition to the web-based technology, that includes; hard and soft copy notifications, call services, analytics, consultation, 24hr support and market education to help increase testing and maintenance activity in a given jurisdiction. The result is a comprehensive and accurate collection of data around which buildings have what types of systems when they were last tested, and if there are any open deficiencies that could jeopardize their successful implementation in the event of an incident.

With The Brycer Compliance Engine, Code Officials are better equipped to do more with less in their mission to drive 100% compliance with fire protection systems, backflows, and elevators inspections, testing and maintenance laws.

Types of fire sprinkler escutcheon

Fire sprinkler escutcheon: though not present with all fire sprinklers, the fire sprinkler escutcheon is a common addition to many pendant sprinkler heads.

Sometimes confused with caps, the escutcheon is a ring used with fire sprinkler pendants to cover the hole in the ceiling that had to be cut to allow the sprinkler head through.

The escutcheon does not cover the sprinkler head, but fits around it, filling the gaps between the sprinkler head and the ceiling to give it a more finished and aesthetically pleasing appearance. The escutcheon also plays an important role in preventing heat from escaping and failing to activate the sprinkler head.

It is important only to get escutcheons that were made specifically for your fire sprinkler system, as they are designed to help with controlling the heat and activating the sprinkler accurately. Pairing the wrong escutcheon with a sprinkler head could prevent it from activating when needed.