Fire Sprinkler Design - Specially Suited To Save LivesA fire could be devastating to a builder, developer, or commercial property owner. And if you don't incorporate a fire sprinkler design and installation into your buildings, you should-because fires are far more common than most people realize. The truth is that it's very easy to start a fire. All it takes is a heat source or spark, some flammable material, and a few minutes of inattention for livelihoods-and lives-to go up in smoke. Following are some of the businesses most at risk of serious fires.

RestaurantsMore residential fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else-and it's no different for commercial kitchens. Gas leaks and flammable materials near burning stove rings are all obvious sources of fire in the kitchen. In addition, restaurant fires can result if grill ducts aren't regularly cleaned, grease traps aren't emptied, stove surfaces aren't kept clear of grease and flammable items, or by faulty electrical equipment or frayed cords.

Hotels and hostelsMost hotels and hostels have kitchens-so the fire risk is the same as that for restaurants. In addition, there's all the risk you have at home from people smoking in their rooms, leaving flammable materials next to heaters, frayed electrical cords, malfunctioning light bulbs, etc.-only more of it. Without a fire sprinkler design incorporated into hotel buildings, guests aren't as safe as they think.

Residential developmentsMore than 72% of those who die in a fire die at home. Residential fires start for many reasons, including incorrect disposal of ashes from cigarettes or fireplaces, worn and frayed electrical cords, malfunctioning electrical appliances, unattended candles or incense, or flammable materials left near a heater. Apartment buildings can be high risk because of the higher volume of people living there-each one capable of unintentionally starting a fire. If you don't have a fire sprinkler installed into your apartments or developments, you're putting your tenants and buyers at risk.

SchoolsSchools are frequently targeted for arson by delinquent youth. Just in the Hampshire region, arson caused £5 million in damages when 25 area schools were deliberately set on fire. More and more schools are incorporating fire sprinkler design-which controls arson fires the moment they're set. Schools without a fire sprinkler design are very vulnerable to arson.

HMO's and care homesThe occupants of these facilities are at particular risk when a fire starts. The elderly and disabled cannot move quickly unassisted to get away from a fire, and some with mental disabilities may be resistant to leaving the building in case of a fire. Tragic HMO fires have led the Scottish fire chief to call for mandatory fire sprinkler design installed in Scottish HMO's and care homes.

The Basics Of Fire Sprinkler DesignWhen considering fire sprinkler design for any building, it's important to follow the following steps:

1. Determine the fire hazard level in the buildingEvery building should be classified for fire risk under the following categories: light hazard, ordinary hazard group 1, ordinary hazard group 2, extra hazard group 1, or extra hazard group 2. Factors involved in classifying a building's hazard level include the material used in construction, the occupancy level, the materials stored in the building, the processes performed in the building (and whether these processes include flammable liquids), ceiling heights, ease of egress, and the amount of floors and rooms.

2. Determine the design area and design densityThe design area is a theoretical space within the building that's designated as the worst possible place where a fire can break out. Once determined as the highest risk area in the building, this area's risk level is usually applied to the entire building. Once that's done, determine the amount of water per square meter would be needed to put a fire out in the design area. The calculations should be done in liters of water per minute. This will help you determine the type of sprinkler heads, fire sprinkler design, and amount of water pressure you'll need.

3. Determine which fire sprinkler installation and design will best meet your needsYou'll need to find a fire sprinkler design that can deliver the amount of water per square foot required to put out a fire in your design area. Doing this entails complex calculations that account for the initial water pressure, as well as reductions or elevations to it due to friction in the pipes, momentum from the speed the water travels, and the difference in elevation between the water pump and the sprinkler heads. Nowadays, these calculations are often performed by computer software-although fire sprinkler installation professionals are still required to learn to do them by hand as part of their certification.

Types Of Fire Sprinkler Installations