Fire Sprinkler Systems Prepared by Thomas Bartsch

 Fire Sprinkler Systems Prepared by Thomas Bartsch 



What is a Sprinkler System

 A fire sprinkler system is an ACTIVE fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flow of water through a distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected,

 Sprinkler systems have been around since the late 1880’s,

 In 1874, H.S. Pamelee patented the first practical automatic sprinkler,

Life Safety Considerations

 No reported multiple deaths in a completely sprinkled building,
 Life Safety is enhanced,
 Combustion products are limited, with extinguishment in the incipient stage,
 Controls 70% of all fires with five or fewer sprinklers activated.

The Codes

 By code definition, there are TWO categories of fire suppression systems;
• Required Systems
• Non-Required Systems
 Required Systems are those required to be installed, by code, due to life safety and/or building contents,
 Non-Required Systems are installed systems not required by the code,
 It is unlawful to occupy any portion of a building until the REQUIRED suppression system has been tested and approved,
When a REQUIRED system is out of service, and where required by code enforcement, the building shall evacuated or an approved Fire Watch shall be provided, whose only duty is to patrol the premises and keep watch for fires,
The Fire Watch must have means to notify the FD.

Sprinkler Design

There are two ways to design a sprinkler system; Pipe Schedule or Hydraulically Calculated.
 Pipe Schedule:
 pipe is sized according to systems pressure and required flow,
 sprinkler discharge density and estimated area of coverage determine pipe size,
 Hydraulic Calculated:
 an engineered approach to match fire hazard to potential water supply pressure and volume,
 most automatic sprinklers today are hydraulically calculated,g

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