International fire safety standards ???

[Mike Buckley]

There may not be systems where the sprinklers are set off by the alarm system, however there are systems where the alarm system can be set off by the sprinklers.

[Benzerari]

Benz each individual sprinkler head is sealed  and no sprinkler head will ever open unless the individual sprinkler head is heated up to the necessary temperature - typically 68 degrees C. Only the sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat will operate- most fires are controlled by one or two heads only.

The system you describe of multiple sprinkler heads controlled by smoke detectors is almost unknown and would only ever be found in specific risk critical industrial process equipment.

So you mean the sprinkler has its own heat sensors then, and can be triggered either manually or through their own heat sensors?

[kurnal]

each head has either a low temperature soldered strut or a  sealed glass bulb filled with liquid (and a bubble). Water will not flow until the solder melts or the glass breaks. When this happens the static pressure in the water pipe falls causing the pumps to start, and after 30 seconds a flow switch sends a message to the fire alarm system.

[Benzerari]

Kurnal;

Do you mean you have never seen a fire alarm system triggered the sprinkler?

[AnthonyB]

Conventional sprinkler heads are quite simple - they are open spray nozzles blocked by a plug/cap held in place by either a thin quartzoid bulb of heat sensitive liquid, or various metal struts held together by fusible heat sensitive alloys and unless exposed to sufficient heat (or knocked hard enough!) will not destruct and release the cap/plug.

Smoke detection is used with a pre-action system where pipes are kept dry (either for frost protection or to prevent flooding from accidental damage, the detectors causing the preaction valve to open and charge the pipes with water before the first sprinkler pops, thus giving a speedier response than a true dry pipe system.

Deluge systems or emulsifying systems used  with oil filled equipment have a series of open sprinkler heads controlled by a fusible or quartzoid detector (basically like a sprinkler head, but opens a valve in the pipe rather than projecting water). This allows a fast response over a wide area where there is a risk of rapid fire spread.

Older sprinkler installations often just have a water motorised gong as an audible alarm of activation, although it is increasingly common and indeed required in most cases for there to be flow or pressure switches installed to signal a premises' electrical fire alarm system, either as one interface for the whole system (such as to a car park), or several in 'zones' (such as to each shop unit in a covered shopping centre).

Pre-action & deluges systems are rare outside of industrial sites (Thomas Moore Square has a few pre actions, unusual for offices), emulsifying deluges are more common in older sprinklered premises that have or had oil fuelled boilers

[kurnal]

Kurnal;

Do you mean you have never seen a fire alarm system triggered the sprinkler?

Only on an industrial LPG cylinder filling plant with multiple spray projectors.

[Benzerari]

Right; this is new to me to be honest, I thought American fire alarm systems linked one way to sprinklers to trigger them?

Thanks Kurnal, every day is school day and for ever

[Benzerari]

Older sprinkler installations often just have a water motorised gong as an audible alarm of activation, although it is increasingly common and indeed required in most cases for there to be flow or pressure switches installed to signal a premises' electrical fire alarm system, either as one interface for the whole system (such as to a car park), or several in 'zones' (such as to each shop unit in a covered shopping centre).

They are the one I kept in my mind as I dealt only once in my life with old sprinkler system with a water bell, it was linked back way to the main fire alarm system through the valve..., in fact it was just to use the fire alarm sounders or bells, as it was only one water bell for the sprinkler fitted outside the building...etc

I have really very little knowledge about sprinklers, say 1% or less

Thanks Anthony for this brief description

[kurnal]

Even the latest systems have the old fshioned water driven bell outside, and a pressure switch that links from the pipe feeding the bell to the fire alarm system. Often there are more electrical connections and monitoring systems too. The bell on the wall outside is to alert the fire brigade as to the location of the sprinkler control valve and indicate which system is operating- there are often several together, each with their own bell outside. We look after one warehouse with 11 of these- its impossible to tell outside which bell is ringing so here is a litle tell tale water nozzle and cup inside on each system as a tell tale indicator.

Only the new residential systems do not have this arrangement.

[Fishy]

In theory, largely impracticable to develop a 'one size fits all', because societal expectation of the 'acceptable' level of safety (and the means to pay for it) varies so very widely throughout the world.  Fire-fighting tactics differ, too.

In reality many countries 'adopt' BS, NFPA or whatever (not ENs though?).  They just don't expect or enforce compliance!

[Benzerari]

I may introduce this topic differently as follows:

What may be internationally standardized and what may not?

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[Chris Houston]

20% of the world can't access clean water to drink. I find it hard to imagine that any fire safety is even a consideration is many countries when there are such greater priorities.   

[Benzerari]

20% of the world can't access clean water to drink. I find it hard to imagine that any fire safety is even a consideration is many countries when there are such greater priorities.   

Indeed, some others, are just locked up in big prison, no in and out..., we are living in heaven comparing to their life... etc, look at Zimbabwe, Palestine, other African countries..., fire safety is the last thing to think about... etc