Technical Information on Industrial, Warehousing and Manufacturing Fire Protection Sprinklers

Sprinkler systems are widely recognised as the single most effective method of fighting the spread of fires in their early stages in industrial and manufacturing occupancies. In addition to protecting the property, they may also serve for the protection of life.

The financial burden of buildings and contents insurance can be greatly relieved by the provision of sprinkler systems. Companies can recoup the cost of the system within three to five years with their reduced insurance premium.

Hazard identification and classification provides the basis for the design of the sprinkler system and is a skilled operation, that can be carried out by Fire Defence Plc, your Insurer or the Fire Authority. The hazard classification affects the choice of installation, operational method, water supply arrangements and pipe work design. Industrial occupancies that typically have abnormal fire loads within them and are classified as high hazard process (HHP) or high hazard storage (HHS) and further classified into HHP goups 1 – 4 and HHS I - IV

For HHP see table
H3 For HHS – There is further storage catagorisation and material factors to be taken into account Table B1

Note: Most materials have been catagorised according to the fire load they impart and can be looked up in annex C of BS12845

Conclusion

The type, size and design of the sprinkler system is flexible so that the protection is appropriate to the hazard.

In all industrial applications, wet pipe installations are preferable. However, if the temperature of the premises cannot be guaranteed to remain above freezing at all times, an alternate system should be fitted; where only part of the premises may fall below 5°C during the winter, a tail end dry extension should be installed in that part as an extension to the wet installation.

Water

Although local water authorities have a duty to supply water for domestic services, water supplies for sprinkler systems are provided only on request and are rarely adequate for high hazard industrial applications. Therefore, a dedicated, dependable supply usually has to be provided by means of a duplication pump set and storage tank.

Click here for High Hazard Process Occupancies chart

 

Fire Defence

• Retail Stores, Shopping Centres, Supermarkets and Shop Fitting
• Hospitals, Care Homes, Residential and Nursing Homes
• Industrial, Warehousing and Manufacturing Buildings
• Commercial Accommodation, Office Accommodation and Public Sector Buildings
• Retrofit for Historic, Heritage and Existing buildings
• Domestic Homes, Residential Homes and Hotels
• Schools, Colleges, Universities and Education Establishments
• Car Parks