Scotland — Fire Sprinklers

Fire Sprinkler systems

Automatic fire sprinkler systems have been in use for over 130 years. Sprinklers have, since the publication of BS 5306 Pt. 2 in 1990, been recognised as providing a vital life safety function in controlling the size of a fire to allow more time to escape for the occupants. In the UK the majority of existing sprinkler systems have been designed and installed to the requirements of British Standard BS 5306 Part 2 and the LPC Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations. More recently systems have been introduced that are intended for the protection of life in domestic and residential property, and which are designed to BS 9251:2005, BS9251:2014 and now BS 9251:2021.

“over 90% of fires are controlled by the activation of just one sprinkler head”

An automatic fire sprinkler system is designed to:

• DETECT A FIRE WITHIN A PROTECTED BUILDING
• RELEASE WATER IN THE FIRE-AFFECTED AREA VIA THE SPRINKLER HEADS, WHICH CONTAIN HEAT SENSITIVE
ELEMENTS DESIGNED TO OPERATE AUTOMATICALLY AT A PRE-DETERMINED TEMPERATURE [NB. ONLY
THOSE SPRINKLERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE FIRE OPERATE]
• INITIATE A WATER FLOW-ACTIVATED, AUDIBLE, LOCAL ALARM WHEN A SPRINKLER HEAD OPERATES
• TRANSMIT A SIGNAL TO AN APPROVED ALARM-RECEIVING CENTRE WHEN REQUIRED.
• CONTROL THE SPREAD OF FIRE AND GIVE MORE TIME TO ESCAPE.

RECORDS SHOW THAT BY THIS MEANS OF PROVIDING DETECTION, ALARM AND LOCALISED WATER APPLICATION, AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR FIRES. IN THE UK NO LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST IN FIRES IN FULLY FIRE SPRINKLER PROTECTED BUILDINGS SINCE THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

IN INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ABOUT 60% OF FIRES ARE CONTROLLED BY FOUR SPRINKLER HEADS OR FEWER. IN DOMESTIC AND RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLER SYSTEMS OVER 90% OF FIRES ARE CONTROLLED BY THE ACTIVATION OF JUST ONE SPRINKLER HEAD. THE VOLUME OF WATER USED BY A PROPERLY DESIGNED, INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM TO CONTROL A FIRE WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THAT USED BY THE FIRE SERVICE TO CONTROL AND EXTINGUISH THE SAME FIRE. IN MANY CASES THIS WILL BE LESS THAN ONE TENTH THAT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN USED BY THE FIRE SERVICE.

In environmental terms automatic fire sprinkler systems make a valuable contribution by:

• Reducing the size and severity of fires

• Using water in the most effective and economical way to control fire

• Minimising the problems of contaminated firefighting water run-off

Why install fire sprinklers?

The vast majority of fires start small but can grow very quickly. If when a fire starts it is detected quickly, it can be extinguished with minimal water usage. Unfortunately, if the fire is not tackled soon enough it can engulf a room within a few minutes. Sprinklers act fast and fight fires before they take hold.

What proof is there that fire sprinklers work?

In the last 120 years the success rate of fire sprinklers controlling fires is more than 99% worldwide. Fire sprinklers are the most effectual and efficient safety devices known to man.

Are sprinkler systems widely used?

Over 70 million sprinkler heads are fitted around the world every year. The UK lags well behind with just 1.8 million sprinklers fitted in 2003.

How many people are injured by fire?

In Great Britain every year fire kills around 450 people and injures around 12000. Approx. 75% of which occur in their own residence.

How do sprinklers reduce the impact of fire?

Installing fire sprinklers would almost eliminate the risk of fire death, cut the risk of injury by over 80%, drop the risk of fire damage to property by 90% and massively help the environment by reducing the damage caused by fire and substantially reducing the amount of water used by fire fighters.

Why not just fit a smoke alarm?

Smoke detectors and alarms only alert people of fire and that is only if they can hear them, even then they would still have to call the fire brigade and wait on them arriving before tackling the blaze. Sprinklers warn of fire but also fight the fire at an early stage even if no-one is aware or present in the property. Most of the time the sprinklers will have controlled the fire before fire fighters have even been called.