Sprinkler systems are the most widely recognised and approved method of fixed fire suppression system in the world. A sprinkler system can be defined as “A system designed to discharge water under pressure from sprinkler heads at or near the point of origin of the fire only”.
National Sprinkler Company are a level 3 LPS 1048 certified sprinkler installer, approved to design, install, service & maintain all categories of work supervised under the LPS 1048 scheme, including those that are fully hydraulically calculated. In the UK & Ireland the LPS 1048 scheme is the most widely recognised 3rd party certification scheme for sprinkler contractors.
Sprinkler systems in the UK & Ireland are typically installed in accordance with the LPC rules for Sprinkler Installations 2009 incorporating BS EN 12845. National Sprinkler Company can also install sprinkler systems in accordance with the NFPA or FM Global sprinkler design standards.
A sprinkler system consists of a network of pipes with sprinkler heads fitted at specific locations throughout the building; the sprinkler heads are temperature-operated devices that discharge water onto fires in specially designed spray patterns.
A sprinkler system consists of a water supply (or supplies) and one or more sprinkler installations; each installation consists of a set of installation main control valves and a pipe array fitted with sprinkler heads.
A temperature-sensitive sealing device which opens to discharge water for fire suppression or extinguishment.
A vertical pipe feeding a distribution or range pipe above.
A distribution pipe from a main distribution pipe, to a terminal branched pipe array.
A pipe, other than the last section of a range pipe, feeding a single sprinkler.
A pipe feeding a distribution pipe.
An alarm valve that initiatesthe water motor fire alarm when the sprinkler installation operates, comes with a stop valve and trim.
A pipe feeding sprinklers directly or via arm pipes of restricted length.
A vertical pipe feeding a distribution or range pipe below.
Insurance companies sometimes offer discounts of up to 70% for buildings that are protected by sprinklers
In the UK there has never been a fire death in a fully sprinklered building.
Losses from fires in buildings protected with sprinklers are estimated to be only one tenth of those in unprotected buildings.
It is untrue that all the sprinklers operate when fire breaks out. In 60% of cases fires are controlled by the spray from 4 sprinklers or less.
Reports of water damage caused by sprinklers are often exaggerated. Firemen often use 10 times more water from hoses to do the same job as a sprinkler.
Sprinklers are very stable. Worldwide records show that only 1 in 16 million sprinklers installed per year will result in failure.
The cost of installing a sprinkler system (excluding water supply) is roughly equivalent to carpeting the same building.
Sprinkler systems have been proven in use for well over 100 years, during which time they have a 99% success rate worldwide.
