Sprinkler systems

[Doggit]

Can you provide a source for that "fact"

Well one family survived by flooding the flat with water from the bathroom. Not exactly the same, but indicative of the possibilities.

Now I'm no expert on sprinkler systems, but as they seem to operate on the basis, of fire in the room gets hot, glass bubble breaks from the heat and soaks everything within a predetermined range; just how much maintenance can you do on that. And if the sprinklers go off whilst you're in the room, they'd know to keep an eye on you for Legionaires disease; it'd get as common as asking about tetanus jabs when you step on a nail.

I think the stairwell should have sprinklers in them, but whilst I can see the advantages of them being in the flats, I'm still undecided on that aspect for now.

 

[dishman]

I think the Legionaries question may (I initially considered it the way you had) also relate to how the supply for the sprinklers relates to the supply for other water in the building. Is there a possibility of cross-contamination etc. I guess that also determined by how well the system is designed and installed or retrofitted in.

 

[Doggit]

With a check valve in the system, even if the main system were drained, there should be no contamination, and I would expect the systems to be seperate.

 

[tomfe]

I think the stairwell should have sprinklers in the

I can just imagine 200 people slipping down 20 flights of wet stairs. Also there is nothing normally in stair wells to combust, they have firedoors and should be safe areas.

 

[dishman]

I can just imagine 200 people slipping down 20 flights of wet stairs.

At least they would get out faster!

 

[tomfe]

You could sell tickets and inflatable rings!!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Just how many cases of legionaries have there been owing to the hundreds of thousands of sprinkler systems fitted to public buildings and the like? The legionaries argument is a red herring.

 

[^woody^]

Just how many cases of legionaries have there been owing to the hundreds of thousands of sprinkler systems fitted to public buildings and the like? The legionaries argument is a red herring.

Very few - because companies are required to undertake regular inspection and testing and follow strict maintenance regimes.

 

[flameport]

Or are they a complete waste of time and money?

That - a total waste in houses, marginal benefits in some other building types.

http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/D...sidential-Sprinklers-for-Wales-April-2012.pdf

 

[hard-work]

That - a total waste in houses, marginal benefits in some other building types.
http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/D...sidential-Sprinklers-for-Wales-April-2012.pdf

That doc does mention maintenance free sprinkler systems. There are water mains fed maintenance free systems. Maintenance appears to be pumped systems.

In high rises sprinklers clearly do have advantages. If say, a fire breaks out in the hallway of a flat (the exit) and you are asleep in bed, by the time the smoke alarm sounds you may be trapped and on the 6th floor. A long way to jump.

Some have mentioned better safety precaution, like superior electrical systems. Having double pole RCBOs on all circuit helps. Relying on one RCD means all the electricity supply can be down if a fault occurs. RCBOs means the the lights will still be on, if a fault occurs on an appliance.

 

[hard-work]

Just how many cases of legionaries have there been owing to the hundreds of thousands of sprinkler systems fitted to public buildings and the like? The legionaries argument is a red herring.

The legionaries threat is when the stagnant water is released via the sprinkler heads.

 

[hard-work]

With a check valve in the system, even if the main system were drained, there should be no contamination, and I would expect the systems to be separate.

You could have a drain pipe from the furthest point and all is needed is opening a valve once a year to drain off the stagnant water in the sprinkler system. That is, the mains water pressure pushes the water out replacing it with fresh water.

 

[hard-work]

Well one family survived by flooding the flat with water from the bathroom.

I question that. Water on the floor and maybe running out of the front door of a flat, would keep back smoke and fire which is mainly at the top of rooms?

 

[hard-work]

I've often wondered how do you test them?

The testing is the pump, flow switch and associated controls. Mains fed systems appear to be maintenance free.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The legionaries threat is when the stagnant water is released via the sprinkler heads.

Yes and when the alternative is burning to death I'll talk my legionaries chances. It's the same argument people use when they say their scared of doing CPR on someone who's stopped breathing for fear of hurting them.