Firestop Sprinkler Pipe System
Firestop Sprinkler Pipe System
Quick and easy to fit, pillar-box red and yet apparently "green" - is Aquatherm the future shape of sprinkler systems?
In the pipeline Steel has been the standard material for piping since fire sprinkler systems were first installed. But its heavy carbon footprint and unwieldy reputation mean that supplies and customers are seeking a nimbler, cheaper, eco-friendlier alternative. Aquatherm is the lighter, greener rival which is poised to change sprinkler history. It claims to use less embodied carbon in its manufacture than carbon steel and so will be the choice for sustainable development projects of the future. The product is made from Polypropylene, a plastic which establishes itself as popular piping material decades ago. Perhaps understandably, it was not immediately considered suitable for fire protection applications. The leap came in 2003 when - as "Indupipe" - it was installed in the Hilton Hotel, London Docklands. But while other countries have adopted it wholeheartedly, the UK has lagged behind. To date Aquatherm has received certification in 15 different countries, while LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) approval in the UK is limited to applications up to 125mm. "The market here is always a bit more conservative," says Keith Thomas, Fire Defence's Technical Sales Manager. "And a lot of customers are waiting for the product to receive LPCB approval for all applications. But for those companies who self-insure, it's a no-brainer.
An Absolute Dream The engineers who use Aquatherm are understandably enthusiastic, as installation takes a fraction of the time required for steel. Socket-fusion jointing is ultra-fast, there are no messy solvents, it's the work of minutes to cut pipes to length and it's far lighter. "There are threaded tees and elbows for head connections and flexibles," says Mark Broadbent, a Fire Defence installation engineer. "And the threads are all metal, not plastic, so there are no concerns about cross-threading. It's an absolute dream to work with."
But how does it perform when it really matters - in a fire? In fact, that's when Aquatherm really comes into its own. Cut open the bright red tube and you'll see that's its fibre-reinforced to make it rigid over long distances. The pipes are pressure-rated up to 48bar and the smooth hydraulics of the surface actually deliver water faster than steel.
Tesco plc was among the first to experience the benefits that the use of Aquatherm could provide. The pipework was fabricated on site at its new supermarket in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, so saving the cost of sub contracting to a specialist. "We tried it as a realistic alternative to steel pipes as costs were escalating so quickly," says Mark Tutton, Tesco's Fire Officer. "We are very happy with the way the Sowqerby Bridge project has gone and will certainly be using this system on future projects.
Sheer Lightness Fire Defence, one of the few users Aquatherm in the UK, believes that plastic pipes will prove ideal for retrofits. "If you have a school, hospital or office block which is still in use, you'd far prefer to have a simple, clean system like this being installed rather than having the welding, swarf and toxic fumes you get with steel systems," says Keith Thomas.
Another important potential application is in the new generation of large distribution sheds, where the sheer lightness of Aquatherm will make a difference to the load-bearing requirement of the roof structure.
