Retrofit Fire Sprinkler Systems for Historic, Heritage and Existing buildings
It is widely accepted that fire is the greatest threat to historic, heritage and existing buildings. Not only is fire a threat to the building itself but to the historic and often valuable artefacts which are contained within them. Data from Historic Scotland Organisation suggests there is an average of over 13 serious fires in A and B gradelisted buildings each year in Scotland. Studies have also indicated that there can be more damage sustained by fire hose reels being pulled through a library to the seat of a fire than the operation of a fire protection sprinkler would have caused. '"Its better to have a few wet books than a pile of ashes."
The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) research also shows that between 1995 -1999 over £15 million worth of damage was caused in historic and heritage buildings by fire. Most of these fires were by deliberate ignition so even the best safe guarding against threats such as electrical fires will not minimise the threat of arson.
One of the most devastating historic building fires was in 1992 when Windsor Castle suffered severe fire damage from a spot light igniting a curtain. The cost of restoration of Windsor Castle was over £36 million. Leading fire experts agree that just ONE fire protection sprinkler could have controlled the fire from the start and saved the castle and its priceless and irreplaceable artefacts. Following on from this devastating fire, fire protection sprinkler and suppression systems are now been installed into many historic building across the UK including the national libraries of England, Wales and Scotland.
Fire Defence PLC has a long and rich history and are the experts in the installation of fire protection sprinkler and suppression systems and general fire protection safety into existing buildings for over 30 years. Fire Defence PLC installed the first fire protection sprinkler system into a stately home in the UK. This was the historic Longleat House over 15 years ago and since then Fire Defence has been providing bespoke fire protection sprinkler and suppression systems for Historic, Heritage and existing buildings throughout the UK.
Installing a sprinkler system in an existing building is an easy process, the end result is a fully fire protected building in which the infrastructure of the sprinkler and suppression system is hidden in the voids between floors and walls. Sprinkler heads are blended into the architecture by disguising them into the decor using ceiling decorations and/or coloured caps. Installing a fire protection sprinkler system does not result in major architectural changes which is a perception that often puts many people off the idea of sprinklers. Our team work seamlessly with your architect and building contractors to design and install a system which forms part of the building design to be unobtrusive to the point of being almost invisible.
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Historic, Heritage and Existing Buildings
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