The LWF Blog
Fire Safety Engineering for Design – Sprinkler Heads – Part 231
April 22, 2025 10:41 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 230, LWF looked at conventional and spray types of modern sprinklers, before discussing quick response sprinklers. In part 231, we discuss sidewall sprinklers and early suppression fast response sprinklers (ESFR).
Some premises may benefit from the use of sidewall sprinklers. One of the main points to using sidewall sprinklers is that it allows the ceiling to be kept clear of pipework, which can help with less disruption during installation or to avoid aesthetic issues. Each sprinkler is able to protect up to 17 m2 in light hazard occupancies and 9 m2 in ordinary hazard occupancies.
As hotel rooms can present a particular issue for sprinkler protection, in that there is a need for exposed pipework in the centre of the room, a particular ‘quick response’ extended coverage sidewall sprinkler may be used. They are designed to give extended coverage of up to 21 m2 and inhibit fire growth through extensive wall wetting.
Any type of sprinkler system should be used in accordance with the installation standards and manufacturer’s guidelines, however sidewall sprinklers are often specified in inappropriate locations. Expert advice should be sought prior to commissioning a new sprinkler system for a space.
Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) Sprinkler
An ESFR sprinkler has large-capacity sprinkler heads incorporating quick response elements which operate very early in the development of a fire and is most commonly used to protect high piled storage areas. Once activated, a large quantity of water is delivered in a relatively small area to extinguish the fire.
The design objective of extinguishment of a fire rather than suppressing or controlling it is one of the major features of this type of sprinkler system. Although it might be thought that the larger volume of water would lead to significant water damage, the sprinklers are operational only for a short time, and so this type of system can be a very effective alternative to systems involving roof plus in-rack sprinklers.
In part 232 of LWF’s series on fire engineering we will continue to discuss types of sprinkler system with control mode specific application (CMSA) and concealed pattern sprinklers. 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.