Importance of Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
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Are Commercial Building Sprinkler Systems Mandatory?

Fire safety is highly important for owners and managers of commercial buildings. A fire in a commercial establishment could lead to serious injury or even death of employees and customers. Read on to learn more about sprinkler systems.

he requirement for commercial building sprinkler systems is typically governed by local building codes and regulations. Building codes are laws or regulations set by local authorities to ensure the safety, health, and general welfare of the public. The specific requirements for sprinkler systems in commercial buildings can vary significantly based on factors such as building size, occupancy type, and local jurisdiction.

In many places, especially in developed countries, building codes often mandate the installation of fire sprinkler systems in commercial buildings. The inclusion of sprinkler systems is generally aimed at providing a reliable and effective means of fire protection, minimizing the risk of fire-related injuries and property damage. Key points regarding commercial building sprinkler systems include:

  1. Occupancy Type:
    • The occupancy type of the commercial building is a crucial factor in determining whether sprinkler systems are required. For example, high-occupancy buildings like hotels, hospitals, schools, and large office buildings may have more stringent requirements.
  2. Building Size and Height:
    • The size and height of the building can influence the need for sprinkler systems. Taller buildings or those with larger floor areas may be subject to more stringent fire safety requirements.
  3. Building Codes and Regulations:
    • Each jurisdiction has its own building codes and regulations, and these codes are periodically updated. Local authorities adopt specific editions of building codes, and compliance with the codes in effect at the time of construction or renovation is typically required.
  4. International Building Code (IBC):
    • In the United States, the International Building Code (IBC) is widely adopted by many states and local jurisdictions. The IBC provides guidelines and requirements for fire protection, including the installation of sprinkler systems.
  5. Life Safety and Property Protection:
    • Sprinkler systems are considered a critical component of life safety and property protection. They are designed to control or suppress fires until the arrival of the fire department, helping to prevent the rapid spread of flames.
  6. Insurance Requirements:
    • Insurance companies may also influence the decision to install sprinkler systems. Some insurance policies offer discounts for properties equipped with fire sprinklers due to the reduced risk of significant fire damage.

It’s important for property owners, developers, and contractors to work closely with local building officials and fire authorities to understand and comply with specific sprinkler system requirements in their jurisdiction. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in regulatory penalties and may impact the occupancy permit for the building.

As building codes and regulations are subject to change, it’s advisable to consult with local authorities or a qualified fire protection professional to ensure accurate and up-to-date information regarding the installation of sprinkler systems in commercial buildings.

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Importance of Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
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What Is A Fire Safety Plan?

Read on to learn some of the elements you need to have in place as part of a fire safety plan.

A fire safety plan is a comprehensive set of procedures and measures designed to prevent fires, ensure the safety of individuals in case of a fire emergency, and minimize property damage. It outlines the steps to be taken in preventing fires, as well as the actions to be followed in the event of a fire outbreak.

  • The appointment and organization of designated supervisory staff by position, with related duties and responsibilities during an emergency.
  • Instructions for building occupants and staff on fire prevention methods and what to do in case of fire.
  • The method of training supervisory staff for fire emergencies.
  • The method and frequency of conducting fire drills.
  • The control of fire hazards throughout the building.
  • Detailed maintenance procedures for fire protection systems and building facilities.
  • The identification of alternate fire safety measures in the event of a temporary shutdown of fire protection equipment or systems so that occupant safety can be maximized.
  • Floor plans that feature the type, location and operation of fire protection systems, access for firefighting and all exit facilities.
  • Detailed instructions for supervisory staff on the use of any emergency equipment, such as the voice communication system, the fire alarm system, smoke control system or emergency power supply system.
  • Procedures for the use of elevators and the evacuation of building occupants requiring special assistance.
  • Established procedures for assisting the fire department in accessing the building and locating the fire. For large facilities, it is recommended that floor plans showing exit locations be posted on each floor.
  • An Accountability System that can account for all building occupants following an evacuation, including notification to the fire department of any missing occupants and their last known location.

A typical fire safety plan includes the following components:

Fire Prevention Measures: This section covers measures to reduce the risk of fire, such as proper storage and handling of flammable materials, regular maintenance of electrical systems, and ensuring smoking regulations are followed.

Emergency Notification: The plan should outline how to alert occupants and authorities in the event of a fire, including procedures for activating fire alarms and notifying emergency services.

Evacuation Procedures: This section details the steps to be taken when a fire occurs, including evacuation routes, assembly points, and procedures for assisting people with disabilities or special needs. It may also include guidelines for conducting fire drills to ensure everyone is familiar with the evacuation process.

Firefighting Equipment: The plan should specify the location and proper use of fire extinguishers, fire hoses, sprinkler systems, and any other firefighting equipment available on the premises.

Responsibilities and Roles: It is important to assign responsibilities to designated personnel, such as fire wardens or marshals, who will coordinate the evacuation process and ensure everyone is accounted for.

Training and Education: Regular training sessions should be conducted to educate occupants about fire safety procedures, including how to use firefighting equipment and respond appropriately during a fire emergency.

Building Information: The plan should include detailed information about the building’s layout, including floor plans, exits, stairwells, and utility shut-off points. This information aids firefighters in locating and controlling the fire.

Regular Plan Review: Fire safety plans should be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure they remain current and effective. Changes in building occupancy, layout, or fire safety regulations may require updates to the plan.

By implementing and regularly reviewing a fire safety plan, individuals and organizations can enhance the safety of occupants, reduce the risk of fire incidents, and be better prepared to respond effectively in case of emergencies.

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Types of Automation for Oilfield Water Management

Automation Oil & Gas Sustainability & ESG Water & Wastewater Oilfield Waterfield engineer water wastewater pipeline valve control It’s a good time to be an oilfield water services company. Oil prices have stabilized above $100/bbl, the US rig count is the highest it’s been since pre-pandemic times, and the combination of domestic water shortages and ESG fund growth places a premium on sustainable water use.

All together, oil & gas producers are willing to pay a premium for quality oilfield water management services so they can continue to ramp drilling programs using recycled and reused produced and flowback water.

As the market for oilfield water services grows, so too does competition. Despite the labor shortage, the oilfield water services market is growing, with water management stalwarts such as Select Energy Services (7%), Oilfield Water Logistics (25%), DHI (22%), and Breakwater (20%) showing strong headcount growth over the last 2 years. Nearly every week it seems a new water transfer or water midstream company pops up.

Rising competition means established companies and newcomers alike will be looking for an edge to outpace their competition. In our last blog, we discussed why we think that automation is a great way for oilfield water management companies to differentiate. In this one, we want to talk more about what we mean by “automation,” breaking the idea down into 3 core categories.

The 3 categories of automation are:

  • Remote Monitoring
  • Remote Control
  • Autonomous Operations

Let’s talk about what each is, and the benefits it offers for oilfield water services companies.

Remote Monitoring for Oilfield Water Services

As the name implies, remote monitoring is a concept that involves using sensors and transmitters to relay up-to-date operational information back to human operators to enable oversight from a distance.

In oilfield water management applications, this usually looks like installing wireless level, temperature, pressure, and flow sensors and transmitting the data they create via long-range wireless networks like cellular or satellite. Once transmitted, data is visualized in software tools that helps operators prioritize their operations. In certain cases, operators may also remotely monitor existing PLCs or RTUs that are connected to equipment like pumps or compressors.

In simple terms, Remote Monitoring connects assets to people, regardless of the distance between them.

Remote monitoring has many safety, sustainability, and efficiency benefits. It allows oilfield water service technicians to avoid higher-risk behaviors and windshield time, and it generally decreases the time to insight by getting information in front of operators more quickly. Furthermore, remote monitoring can enable water transfer and treatment companies to share information with their customers in real-time.

Of course, Remote Monitoring only provides information to operators. It’s what they do with that information that matters, which leads us to the next level of automation.

Remote Control

Remote Control reverses the flow of information created by Remote Monitoring. Instead of connecting assets up to people, Remote Control connects people back to their assets, giving them the ability to actuate changes in real-time whether they are 100 feet or 100 miles from the asset.

In oilfield water applications, Remote Control generally looks like connecting equipment controls –  such as relays, VSDs, or stepping actuators – to a remote connectivity network such as cellular or SCADA. Operators then use software to send commands to these equipment controls, actuating changes.

The benefits of Remote Control essentially “double up” on the benefits of Remote Monitoring by completing the trip back to the asset and offering the same safety, sustainability, and efficiency benefits. 

With Remote Monitoring and Remote Control, there is always a human in the loop. The human applies their experience and logic to infer necessary actions from Remote Monitoring systems and, in some cases, take those actions via Remote Control systems.

In many cases, humans should be in the loop. But in others, it can be beneficial to take humans out of the loop, which takes us to the next and final level of automation.

Autonomous Operations

Autonomous Operations involve both Monitoring & Control, but instead of human logic placed between them, we instead insert machine logic.

Certain operational tasks are highly repeatable, and the logic to complete them is routine and well-understood. In this case, Autonomous Operations can be used to connect insights to actions more quickly.

In oilfield water management applications, Autonomous Operations generally looks like connecting those things we are remotely monitoring, like pressure, temperature, level, and flow, to those things we are remotely controlling, like pumps and valves. In between these things we used algorithms and logic to determine how and when changes are made.

Of course, when implementing Autonomous Operations, it’s always a good idea to include oversight. This brings us full circle, back to Remote Monitoring & Control. By adding remote monitoring characteristics, such as alarming, to Autonomous Operations, we can determine if the machine logic has failed to achieve the desired state. Furthermore, we can take action through emergency shutdowns, to stop unsafe autonomous operations.

Is automation right for you?

There are many more examples of how Remote Monitoring, Remote Control, and Autonomous Operations can be applied in oilfield water services. Not every application will require any or all of these types of automation. Still, oilfield water companies look to carve out more efficiency, drive sustainability programs, or improve safety numbers will benefit from adding automation in certain cases.

Choose the type of automation that provides the most benefit. In many cases, Remote Monitoring serves as a great starting point, opening up opportunities to discover where the higher “levels” of automation can provide benefit.

Source

https://blog.wellaware.us/blog/the-three-types-of-automation-for-oilfield-water-management

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Importance of Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
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Flow Measurement

Flow measurement is the quantification of bulk fluid movement. Flow can be measured in a variety of ways. The common types of flowmeters with industrial applications are listed below:

 

  1. a) Obstruction type (differential pressure or variable area)
  2. b) Inferential (turbine type)
  3. c) Electromagnetic
  4. d) Positive-displacement flowmeters, which accumulate a fixed volume of fluid and then count the number of times the volume is filled to measure flow.
  5. e) Fluid dynamic (vortex shedding)
  6. f) Anemometer
  7. g) Ultrasonic
  8. h) Mass flowmeter (Coriolis force).

Flow measurement methods other than positive-displacement flowmeters rely on forces produced by the flowing stream as it overcomes a known constriction, to indirectly calculate flow. Flow may be measured by measuring the velocity of fluid over a known area. For very large flows, tracer methods may be used to deduce the flow rate from the change in concentration of a dye or radioisotope.

Water metering

Water metering is the practice of measuring water use. Water meters measure the volume of water used by residential and commercial building units that are supplied with water by a public water supply system. They are also used to determine flow through a particular portion of the system.

In most of the world water meters are calibrated in cubic metres (m3) or litres,[1] but in the United States and some other countries water meters are calibrated in cubic feet (ft.3) or US gallons on a mechanical or electronic register. Modern meters typically can display rate-of-flow in addition to total volume.

Several types of water meters are in common use, and may be characterized by the flow measurement method, the type of end-user, the required flow rates, and accuracy requirements.

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Importance of Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
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Fire Water Systems

A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection method, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected. Although historically only used in factories and large commercial buildings, systems for homes and small buildings are now available at a cost-effective price. Fire sprinkler systems are extensively used worldwide, with over 40 million sprinkler heads fitted each year. In buildings completely protected by fire sprinkler systems, over 96% of fires were controlled by fire sprinklers alone.

A firewater system generally has four main sections:

1. A supply of firewater. This can come from storage tanks, a firewater lagoon, or a natural body of water such as the sea or a lake or river.

2.A pumping system that provides a sufficient flow of water to extinguish the fire.

3.A header network of pipes, often in the form of a ring main that transfers the water from the pumps to the fire.

4.Hydrants, nozzles, sprinklers, or other local devices for directing the firewater to the location of the emergency.

Source 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_sprinkler_system

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Why Do Sump Pump Float Switches Fail?
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Water Management in Intelligent Buildings and IoT

Intelligent buildings are the culmination of technological advancements that enable cost containment, efficiency, sustainability, and occupant satisfaction through system optimization. While solutions for intelligent buildings have traditionally been positioned to promote energy efficiency, as the market matures, vendors are emphasizing broader benefits. One such benefit is the conservation and management of water, which is becoming an increasingly important issue in commercial buildings. Advocates have long struggled to increase widespread investment in water-saving technologies and the adoption of intelligent building solutions.

Sensor technology and Internet of Things (IoT) devices are becoming more prevalent in commercial building management. This intelligent building management technology provides building owners and occupants with real-time data that can be used to drive or automate decisions, resulting in cost savings and resource conservation.

For example, the growing trend of remote, telecommuting office workers can be addressed through occupancy sensors that detect the presence or absence of employees in work areas, ensuring that the building is lit, cooled, or heated only when necessary. According to a recent study, smart technologies can help the average office building save 18% of its energy consumption. 1

Several of these systems can also take into account tenant or office worker feedback. Comfy, a smart workplace phone or computer app, collects user preferences for workplace temperature settings, aggregates the data, and then instructs the building’s smart energy system to adjust temperatures automatically to maintain a comfortable working environment.

Why is Smart Water Management Gaining Traction?

While the primary focus of IoT devices in smart building management has been on energy savings, their ability to save water is gaining traction. Ecova found that 57% of energy, facility, finance, and sustainability managers had invested in water conservation measures in 2016. Water conservation efforts, such as irrigation controls and behavioral change, were viewed as low- or no-cost priorities by the surveyed group. 2

Today’s investments in smart water management are simple to implement and quickly pay for themselves.

By 2025, the water management technology market is expected to reach $2.8 billion.

Following irrigation, the next step is to integrate smart water technologies into facility management, which is the direction in which the industry is headed, according to a Navigant Research report.

Trends in Intelligent Water Management

Global investment in water management technologies and services is expected to double to $2.8 billion by 2025, the report states, as water management becomes a standard component of smart buildings. As corporate sustainability and energy efficiency become more important, vendors of smart building technology are demonstrating more comprehensive tools, including some designed specifically for water conservation and management.

Significant corporations are under increased pressure from shareholders and customers to demonstrate sustainability action. Customers are seizing the opportunity to manage their water consumption through targeted actions that make economic sense, as the bottom line remains the primary driver of business investment today. Three emerging technology areas are water-efficient plumbing, irrigation management, and monitoring software.

Manage Facility Water Use Effectively Using Smart Water Management Technology

Smart water management technology provides the data and tools necessary to manage water use more effectively. The data collected by smart water devices is integrated with building management systems to demonstrate how much water is being used and to identify areas where water can be used more efficiently.

Here are some ways that HydroPoint’s smart water management tools can assist you in reducing water waste:

Integrated dashboards that display real-time water use data assist you in adhering to water restrictions or budgets for outdoor irrigation.

Water leaks, large and small, indoors and outdoors, can be detected and reported 24 hours a day with 24-hour water usage monitoring and reporting. Alerts can be sent to a computer or a mobile device in the event of a leak.

Automated irrigation schedules based on weather or soil moisture data promote plant health and prevent overwatering landscapes, resulting in decreased plant loss, hardscape damage, common area hazards, and stormwater runoff.

Controlling the system remotely via computer or mobile device eliminates the need for site visits and wet checks.

Sustainability, as well as corporate commitment to intelligent buildings, are significant drivers for early movers in the water management market. However, a lack of regulation and a disparity between the true cost of water and its price are two impediments to water conservation and management. Investment in three segments of water management—software and services, water-efficient plumbing, and irrigation management—provides economic and environmental benefits, but adoption rates and scale vary significantly by region and customer sector. Global investment in water management solutions is expected to increase from $2,007.9 million in 2016 to $2,862.3 million in 2025, according to Navigant Research.

This Navigant Research report examines the opportunities and challenges associated with deploying water management technologies and services in intelligent buildings. The study investigates the major market dynamics influencing water management solution adoption at the macro level, as well as by customer sector (building type) and region. Revenue forecasts for the global market are provided through 2025, segmented by customer sector, technology segment, and region. Additionally, the report examines key water management technologies for intelligent buildings, as well as the competitive landscape.

Significant Issues Addressed:

  • What is motivating interest in intelligent building water management?
  • Which of the following are the primary impediments to investing in intelligent building water management?
  • What are the advantages of intelligent building water management?
  • Which customer segments stand to gain the most from intelligent building water management?
  • Which technology segments in the intelligent building water management market will experience the fastest growth?
  • Which water management solutions are gaining the most traction?

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Why Do Sump Pump Float Switches Fail?
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Water Management in Intelligent Buildings

Intelligent buildings are the culmination of technological advancements that enable cost containment, efficiency, sustainability, and occupant satisfaction through system optimization. While solutions for intelligent buildings have traditionally been positioned to promote energy efficiency, as the market matures, vendors are emphasizing broader benefits. One such benefit is the conservation and management of water, which is becoming an increasingly important issue in commercial buildings. Advocates have long struggled to increase widespread investment in water-saving technologies and the adoption of intelligent building solutions.

Sustainability, as well as corporate commitment to intelligent buildings, are significant drivers for early movers in the water management market. However, a lack of regulation and a disparity between the true cost of water and its price are two impediments to water conservation and management. Investment in three segments of water management—software and services, water-efficient plumbing, and irrigation management—provides economic and environmental benefits, but adoption rates and scale vary significantly by region and customer sector. Global investment in water management solutions is expected to increase from $2,007.9 million in 2016 to $2,862.3 million in 2025, according to Navigant Research.

This Navigant Research report examines the opportunities and challenges associated with deploying water management technologies and services in intelligent buildings. The study investigates the major market dynamics influencing water management solution adoption at the macro level, as well as by customer sector (building type) and region. Revenue forecasts for the global market are provided through 2025, segmented by customer sector, technology segment, and region. Additionally, the report examines key water management technologies for intelligent buildings, as well as the competitive landscape.

Significant Issues Addressed:

  • What is motivating interest in intelligent building water management?
  • Which of the following are the primary impediments to investing in intelligent building water management?
  • What are the advantages of intelligent building water management?
  • Which customer segments stand to gain the most from intelligent building water management?
  • Which technology segments in the intelligent building water management market will experience the fastest growth?
  • Which water management solutions are gaining the most traction?

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Fire Safety in Smart Buildings

We’re seeing all aspects of our lives become smarter as technology advances. From our phones to our homes and now to commercial buildings, we are surrounded by technology. We are not only designing buildings that improve efficiencies, but also buildings that make our lives easier. Consider a structure that understands your heating and lighting preferences based on the time of day. Depending on the number of people in the building, a smart building will turn them off or on.

What are smart buildings and how do they work?

Smart buildings contain integrated technology systems that control and automate IoT (Internet of Things) applications, procedures, and processes, as well as collect data to improve internal operations. Smart buildings provide a level of connectivity through their intelligent networks, which are powered by advanced software and interfaces to provide control over a variety of aspects, including heating, lighting, room scheduling, energy consumption, air ventilation, and fire safety and security.

By integrating these systems into their smart building’s network, smart buildings have revolutionized the capabilities and control a business has over its fire safety and security. Integrating fire safety and security into smart buildings can have enormous benefits for employees, the building, and the overall business, from data analysis to automation.

What are the Advantages of Smart Structures?

Smart buildings have a number of advantages that benefit both the company and its employees.

Get Access to Smart Data

Smart technology allows you to receive smart data that will provide you with a detailed understanding of how IoT systems work and how efficient your processes are. Do you want to know who is in your building and where they are? What are the statistics on security system triggers, as well as your overall energy consumption? All of this data can be collected and presented in one unified space by a smart building.

Efficient Energy Consumption

A smart building provides the data necessary for optimal efficiencies, which means that all integrated systems can be controlled to reduce unnecessary energy consumption and thus improve the building’s overall environmental impact.

Access control and motion sensors, for example, can detect whether or not someone is present in a room. If they aren’t, lights and heating/air conditioning can be turned off automatically. Furthermore, appliances that are not in use can be programmed to turn off automatically.

Detection of Faults Automatically

Smart buildings have the advantage of constant data, allowing for real-time monitoring of all systems. The ability to monitor and identify system faults is extremely beneficial to a company because the fault can then be automatically sent to the monitoring provider or building management team. This not only makes the workplace safer for employees, but it also eliminates the need for someone to notice and report a problem.

Find out how the building is used

The ability to learn how the space is used is a key benefit of smart buildings that is often overlooked. Motion sensors, access control, and CCTV are excellent tools for determining which areas are at risk in the event of a fire, a security breach, or even which meeting rooms and desks are available for use.

Increased Productivity

The most well-known benefit of smart buildings is their ability to increase efficiencies, not only in the individual systems but also among employees. Because of the controlled environmental impacts, such as the level of air ventilation and the automation of certain tasks, employees will be able to work more productively.

Cost-cutting

Smart buildings also have the financial benefit of lowering overall costs. This is primarily due to increased overall efficiencies achieved through data analysis and automation, which aid in the elimination of inefficient energy use, employee productivity, and building space utilization.

How Can a Smart Building Integrate Fire Safety?

With the use of wireless, cloud-based, and app-based systems, improved fire safety can be easily integrated into a smart building. When temperature sensors determine whether a piece of equipment is overheating and smoke alarms automatically activate an emergency response, a smart building can significantly improve fire safety.

We can integrate fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, and fire suppression systems into a smart building that can be controlled from a central control point and work alongside existing systems like CCTV, motion sensors, and heating. A smart building will not only be able to detect a fire, but it will also be able to take the necessary steps to prevent one from occurring in the first place.

How can a smart building’s security be integrated?

Security, like fire safety, is easily integrated into a smart building and is critical to keeping a building and its occupants safe.

Motion sensors and intruder alarm systems, for example, can be combined to detect an intruder in a specific area of the building. After that, access control can be used to prevent the intruder from moving around the building until the authorities arrive.

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Myths and Facts About Commercial Fire Sprinkler Systems
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Myths and Facts About Commercial Fire Sprinkler Systems

What do high-rise buildings, stadiums, medical centers, and warehouses all have in common? These massive commercial structures necessitate the use of commercial fire sprinkler systems to provide the best possible fire protection. When it comes to the usefulness of fire sprinklers, there are many myths that obscure the realities

When extreme heat reaches the sprinkler heads, commercial fire sprinklers douse the flames. Massive amounts of heat pour upward toward the ceiling as flames unwind in seconds. Heat infiltration is how fire sprinklers work.

In fact, glycerin-based solutions are stored within the glass bulbs of fire sprinklers. The glycerin-based liquids inside the bulbs swell when hot air of 135 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit collides with them. The bulb shatters as the liquid expands. As a result, the sprinklers are turned on right away.

It’s reassuring to know that the toast burning in the office break room won’t set off the fire sprinklers.

Myth: When one sprinkler activates, all sprinklers activate as well.

Sprinkler systems are frequently dramatized on television. Commercial sprinklers are shown in movies going off like firecrackers, with one sprinkler activating the sprinkler systems for the entire floor.

The truth is that each sprinkler works in its own unique way. The water from just one or two sprinkler heads is enough to put out the majority of flames in commercial environments. According to data compiled over the course of 80 years of automated sprinkler use, 82 percent of fires are put out with no more than two sprinkler heads.

Myth: Sprinklers cause catastrophic water damage.

Fire sprinklers release significantly less water than a firefighter’s hose, which does far less damage. When a fireman tries to put out a fire on a commercial building, he uses six times the amount of water that a sprinkler system would. As a result, a fire service visit and subsequent extinguishment can result in considerable water damage.

Install a business fire sprinkler system to keep water damage to a minimum. Remember that a single sprinkler head rarely activates the entire system. Small fires are put out, and water damage is minimized.

Myth: Smoke alarms provide ample protection, hence fire sprinklers are unnecessary.

While smoke detectors notify staff to the presence of a fire, they do nothing to extinguish it.

Furthermore, if a fire breaks out late at night or on weekends, the fire alarm system fails to put out the flames, allowing the fire to spread and destroy property long before the fire trucks arrive.

Myth: Fire sprinklers aren’t very effective in saving lives and reducing injuries.

Fact: When an automatic fire sprinkler system is installed, the number of injuries and fatalities is minimized. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were 0.8 deaths per 1,000 recorded fires in houses with an automated extinguishing system (AES); nevertheless, there were 6.3 deaths per 1,000 reported fires in structures without an AES. According to the research, buildings with sprinkler systems have an 87 percent lower death rate than those without.

There are alarming statistics about fire-related injuries and the essential role sprinkler systems play. When a structure had a sprinkler system, there were 23 injuries for every 1,000 recorded fires. This means that buildings with sprinkler systems have a 27 percent lower injury rate than those without. The fires were either too small to activate the sprinklers, or injuries were inflicted in the first stages of the fire outbreak, before the sprinklers could activate, resulting in injuries.

Myth: There is no need to maintain a business fire sprinkler system.

Sprinkler systems, like any mechanical device, require regular maintenance in order to function during vital moments. Sprinkler failures can be caused by a lack of maintenance. It’s worth noting that, because to advances in fire safety equipment, fire sprinkler failures are becoming less prevalent.

Regular maintenance involves ensuring that pipes do not freeze in freezing weather, testing sprinklers weekly, monitoring pipe pressure, inspecting heads for damage and unrestricted flow on a regular basis, looking for leaks, and ensuring that valves open and close properly.

Additionally, property owners should make sure that the sprinklers are turned on. While it may appear sensible, the sprinkler system was turned off in 59 percent of sprinkler system failures.

Myth: Installing sprinklers has no impact on property insurance premiums.

Certain local rules may require the installation of sprinklers. While installing sprinklers might be costly for certain businesses, many insurance companies will lower premiums if a sprinkler system is installed. Annual sprinkler inspections are essential to maintain the lower insurance prices.

If your commercial property’s fire sprinkler system is turned on and well-maintained, a fire is unlikely to cause substantial damage. In the event that a tiny fire breaks out and is quickly put out by sprinklers, the fire damage will be minimal.

Waterline Controls™

Our level sensors and controls aren’t just for use in residential potable water holding tanks; some of the other applications include cooling towers, sump pumps, wastewater, boilers, water storage tanks, and building fire protection water tanks.

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Myths and Facts About Commercial Fire Sprinkler Systems
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What Type of Fire Can Be Put Out Safely with Water?

There are five classes of fires, and they are classified according to what fuels them. Extinguishing a fire successfully depends on the fuel. A fire needs fuel, oxygen, and heat. To effectively put out a fire you need to remove one of these elements. Read on to learn more.

Fires are classified as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class K. Each type of fire involves a different flammable material and a special approach to safely putting it out. Trying to extinguish a fire with the wrong method can be dangerous and make the situation worse.

  • Class A fires involve solid materials such as wood, clothing, paper, and plastic. These fires are the most common and ones that you are most likely to be familiar with. Many Class A fires are caused unintentionally by accidents such as knocking over a candle to lightning hitting a tree. Class A fires are the easiest to put out and you can use a water or foam extinguisher. The fire is smothered by extinguishing the fire’s heat supply.
  • Class B fires involve flammable liquids rather than solids. Common causes for these fires include gasoline, alcohol, and oil. It is important to note that despite involving liquid, this Class does not include cooking fires. Water does not extinguish Class B fires and can spread the flammable liquid, making it worse. You must only put out these fires with powder, foam, or carbon dioxide extinguishers to cut off the fire’s oxygen supply.
  • Class C fires involve electricity, and they can be started in old wiring, frayed cords, or faulty appliances. Should you notice an electrical fire, you must try to disconnect the appliance if it is safe to do so. Use a powder or carbon dioxide extinguisher to put these fires out. Water and foam cannot be used as they are both electrical conductors and can make the situation more dangerous. Once the power supply is shut off, Class C fires become Class A instead as the electrical component has been removed.
  • Class D fires are very rare and occur when metal ignites. These are rare because most metals require high temperatures to ignite but alkali metals like aluminum, potassium, and magnesium can ignite when exposed to water or air. You therefore, cannot use water on these fires and can only use a dry powder extinguisher. The powder works by separating the oxygen from the fuel or removing the heat.
  • Class K fires involve cooking liquids and fats and sometimes can be grouped together with Class B fires. These fires have high flash points and commonly occur on the stove when pans are left unattended. You need to remove the pan from the heat as soon as possible and never use water as it can cause a dangerous splatter effect. A wet chemical extinguisher is best for cooking fires.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

When faced with fire it is beneficial to know the ways to put out a fire and what types of fires can be put out with water. Just as there are different types of fires, there are different types of extinguishers:

  • Class A extinguishers put out common flammable materials such as wood, and paper.
  • Class B extinguishers are for grease, oils, and gasoline.
  • Class C extinguishers will put out electrical fires.
  • Class D are for flammable metals.

The materials in these extinguishers that put the fires out are either water, foam, dry powder, or carbon dioxide.

  • Water extinguishers: These work by removing the heat element and spray water propelled by air onto the flames.
  • Carbon dioxide extinguishers: These contain a mix of gaseous and liquid carbon dioxide stored at a high pressure. When released the carbon dioxide spray smothers the oxygen, starving the fire.
  • Foam and dry powder extinguishers: These work similar, with the canister either filled with foam or powder. These are propelled by compressed nitrogen and smothers the fire by depriving it of oxygen from the surrounding air.

You can purchase multipurpose extinguishers for your home, and they will put out common household fires. Most industrial or commercial properties will have extinguishers on site that can effectively put out any types of fires expected in that environment. Learn the basics of fire extinguishers on Fire Rescue Magazine.

How to Safely Extinguish Fires

There are certain fires that you are more likely to come across than others, but it is important to know how to put them out should you encounter any of the different types of fires.

  • How to put out a gas fire: Water will be ineffective but you can smother the flames with a blanket. You can also use a powder or foam extinguisher.
  • How to put out a chemical fire: ever use water as this can spread the chemicals further. Extinguish these fires with foam or dry powder.
  • How to put out a gasoline fire: Gasoline fires will require a foam or powder extinguisher. If you can, use wet rags or sand to smother the fire. This is only effective if the amount of gasoline is small.
  • How to put out an electrical fire: Do not use water. Unplug the device or appliance if safe to do so and turn off power if possible. Use a multipurpose extinguisher or smother the flames with a blanket. Baking soda can also be used on small electrical fires to smother the flames.
  • How to put out an alcohol fire: You need a carbon dioxide extinguisher for alcohol fires or cover it with something non-flammable and heat-resistant.
  • How to put out an oven fire: Close the oven door and turn it off. If flames come out of the oven, you can use a multipurpose extinguisher or throw baking soda on the flames.
  • How to smother a fire: Smothering a fire involves depriving it of oxygen and this can be done by using a blanket.

Source: https://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/what-type-of-fire-can-be-put-out-with-water#gref

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