The LWF Blog
Fire Safety for Facilities Management Personnel – Sprinkler Installation Design – Part 240
February 19, 2024 11:29 amLawrence Webster Forrest (LWF) is a specialist fire engineering and fire risk management consultancy whose aim is to give information on best practice in fire safety for facilities management personnel through this blog series. In part 239, LWF began to talk about sprinkler heads. In part 240 we continue to discuss sprinkler heads.
An issue commonly seen in the fire protection industry is that sprinkler heads may operate at different times, despite being rated at the same temperature of operation. The reason for this is simple; it takes some time for the sprinkler head itself to be heated to the designated temperature by the hot gases rising from the fire. Different designs and makes of sprinkler head take different periods of time to reach the same temperature and therefore will open at different times.
This delay may be minimal, but in certain circumstances, it is important to ensure the fastest possible response (e.g. in certain residential environments or high-piled storage risks). Quick response heads with low thermal inertia are available which ensure the fastest possible response time from the sprinkler head in a fire situation.
One category of quick response head is utilised in a sprinkler system known as ESFR (early suppression fast response). Factory Mutual Insurers (USA) developed the systems with ceiling sprinklers to protect storage risks which would normally require sprinklers within the storage racks as well as ceiling sprinklers. These systems are recognised by insurers in the UK.
While the quick response element of these systems is attractive, care should be taken in the design and use of such, as they are less able to deal with adverse building features than conventional ceiling and in-rack sprinkler installations.
Traditional sprinkler heads are smaller than ESFR heads and a conventional system offers proper protection for manufacturing hazards such as flammable liquid and aerosol operations etc.
As the main advantage of an ESFR system is that it can allow for in-rack sprinklers to be removed from the design, it means that ESFR systems are mainly designed for specific types of storage occupancy, rather than general use.
An ESFR system will have increased pressures and water flow rates and if used where it is not required can cause water damage that is not necessary for the suppression of a fire.
In part 241 of this series, LWF will talk about the proper location of sprinkler heads. In the meantime, if you have any queries about your own facilities or wish to discuss this blog series, please contact LWF on freephone 0800 410 1130.
Lawrence Webster Forrest is a fire engineering consultancy based in Surrey with over 35 years’ experience, which provides a wide range of consultancy services to professionals involved in the design, development and construction and operation of buildings.
While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in LWF’s publications is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information.