Sprinkler systems have demonstrated their value in protecting life and property in industrial and commercial buildings for many years. The advent of sprinklers that operate at an earlier stage in the development of a fire have led to the introduction of residential systems designed for domestic dwellings.

A correctly designed and installed sprinkler system can detect and control a fire at an early stage of development and activate an alarm. Operation of the system will rapidly control a fire and reduce the rate of production of heat and smoke, allowing time for the occupants to escape to safety.

Residential sprinklers can offer a broad package of fire protection for householders, which protects not only lives, but has the added advantage of reducing property and contents damage. Sprinklers can help to reduce the overall expenditure on fire, by minimising the cost of ‘after care’ for fire victims provided by Health Authorities and Social Services and achieve this by adding to the quality of protection the Fire Service provides.

Residential sprinklers are a relatively new concept in this country. This module is therefore designed to explain what residential sprinklers are; what they do; where it might be appropriate to install a system; and answers some commonly asked questions.

How residential sprinklers operate:
A residential sprinkler system is a series of pipes (plastic or copper) and water spray heads designed to detect, intervene and suppress/control a fire when activated.
Residential sprinklers are individually heat-activated. They are connected to a network of piping which in turn is filled with water under pressure. When the heat of a fire raises the sprinkler to its operating temperature, usually between 57°C-79°C, a fusible link or glass bulb will activate only that sprinkler over the fire, thereby releasing water over the source of heat and walls, reducing the fire-size temperatures and levels of toxic gases within the room of origin.

The result is to keep a fire from reaching potentially dangerous and life-threatening proportions and giving early detection. Residential sprinklers operate automatically in the event of a fire, even if the householder is not home, releasing water directly over the source of heat and sounding the alarm. They help to extinguish a fire, but should this not happen the system will control the fire and slow its growth and reduce smoke and toxic fumes. This means that the fire service will be faced with a less severe fire and much less damage caused to the property. Most importantly the householder will have had time to escape.

British Standard for residential sprinklers:
The British Standard BS9251:2005 gives recommendations for the design, installation, components, water supplies, commissioning, maintenance and testing of fire sprinkler systems installed for life safety purposes with additional benefits for protection in residential and domestic occupancies.  
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