The LWF Blog
Fire Safety Engineering for Design – Fire Suppression – Part 211
November 25, 2024 11:50 amLWF’s Fire Safety Engineering blog series is written for Architects, building designers and others in the construction industry to highlight and promote discussion on all topics around fire engineering. In part 210, LWF discussed residential smoke ventilation and the effects of sprinklers when used in combination with ventilation systems. In pat 211, we begin to look at fire suppression.
A fire suppression system can be any one of a large variety of types of active firefighting system. When considering employing one of these systems in a building, it is important to understand how it works and to have realistic expectations regarding performance.
For instance, a gaseous suppression system might be employed to extinguish a fire in a given location or room, however, its efficacy would be severely impaired should a door in the enclosure be left open.
A sprinkler system might be expected to suppress fire to extinguishment, however, when it comes to Class A fires, a sprinkler system would generally only be expected to suppress the fire until the Fire Service attend. The products of fire, such as smoke and heat will be substantially less than if there had not been a sprinkler system installed.
It may be that there have been obligations placed on the property owner to install a fire suppression system by insurers, local authority or Fire Service. In such cases, the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) will spell out very clearly what is required to comply. It is likely that the requirement will relate to preserving life safety on the premises where requirements are imposed under the Building Regulations 2010, whereas property insurers are most likely looking at protecting property.
Of course, a system designed to protect life is also likely to have a beneficial impact on property protection, and vice versa. It can be the case that a system designed for one will achieve both objectives.
Where simple compliance is not the objective, the objectives of the requisitioner must be ascertained through review and a suitable active firefighting system decided upon. It is important that expectations are understood and that acceptable levels of property and contents damage must be agreed upon.
Where the building or contents are especially valuable (or irreplaceable), a comprehensive scheme of protection may be the only solution.
In part 212 of LWF’s series on fire engineering we will continue to discuss fire suppression, beginning with what comprehensive fire protection for a valuable building or contents might comprise. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this blog, or wish to discuss your own project with one of our fire engineers, please contact us.
Lawrence Webster Forrest has been working with their clients since 1986 to produce innovative and exciting building projects. If you would like further information on how LWF and fire strategies could assist you, please contact the LWF office on 0800 410 1130.
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.