Unsatisfactory sprinkler performance can put lives and property in harms way. Proper initial design and installation of automatic sprinkler systems are one of the most significant components of creating a reliable building fire protection strategy.
Properly designed, installed and maintained automatic sprinkler systems have the capability of controlling fires and significantly reduce deaths, injuries and property damage during a fire. However sprinkler systems, like most technology, have limitations and the performance of sprinklers can be affected by factors that have nothing to do with initial design or installation of the sprinkler systems.
To keep your automatic sprinkler systems from failing, you need to know how to identify errors and know the causes of unsatisfactory sprinkler performance.
Historical fire losses will always have a hand at shaping current fire protection design methodologies, design criteria and defense strategies to prevent major losses of life and property.
Post-fire loss investigations reveal the cause of fires and causes associated with sprinkler system failures. Some common causes of unsatisfactory sprinkler system performance failures are failure to operate, ineffectiveness to control a fire and failure to limit damages to life and property.
Problems arise for a sprinkler system after its initial installation because building structures change overtime and this has a profound impact on the sprinkler system’s effectiveness.
The top five reasons sprinkler performance declines are:
- Water shut off.
- The sprinkler system is inadequate for the level of hazard in occupancy.
- Lack of adequate water supplies.
- Lack of sprinkler system maintenance.
- Obstruction to the sprinkler system’s water distribution.
Always do your best to maintain the operational status of your sprinkler system by having it regularly inspected, tested and maintenance. Your sprinkler system should always maintain a 100 percent operational status.
For the most effective sprinkler system, make sure its properly designed and installed for your building’s given hazards. Your sprinkler system needs to be ready to apply enough water to control the hazards the system protects. Initial design errors, partial system installations, changes to the commodity can all put your fire safety strategy into jeopardy.
Make sure you have other firestops in place to help your sprinkler system adequately perform. For example, you should have a fire safety plan in place that helps with building exterior fire suppression that sprinklers cannot tackle.
Read Automatic Sprinkler Systems Required In New High Rise Building Codes for more information on the important of proper design and installation of sprinkler systems.
Install a reliable fire sprinkler system and have it regularly serviced by Fireline Corporation to keep your building protected at all times.
Fireline can design, furnish and install all types of fire sprinkler systems including wet pipe systems, pre-action systems and deluge systems as well as standpipe systems and fire pumps. Read about our sprinklers by clicking here.
We are a Maryland corporation founded in 1947 by John S. Waters. Fireline remains a pioneer in the fledgling fire equipment distribution business and we have grown to encompass all facets of fire protection. Our Totally Integrated Protection Solutions provide you with a wide variety of services. We can design, install, inspect, or service any type of fire protection system. From fire alarm to fire extinguisher, we do it all.
If you have any questions about Sprinklers, fire equipment, or other Fireline products and services, contact Fireline by calling 410.247.1422 or click here today!
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