Fire sprinkler systems consist of a network of pipes, sprinkler heads, valves, pipe hangers, etc. In the event of a fire in the protected space the area will automatically be doused with water. The rapid release of water will knock the fire down immediately or at least keep it under control for long enough that people in the building can escape to safety. For many years fire sprinkler system design in NJ focused on industrial and commercial facilities but today sprinkler systems are being routinely installed in private homes.
Fire sprinkler systems are not new but they are very different than they were many years ago. There is evidence that a network of pipes in various diameters was installed during the construction of the Theater Royal in London in 1812. At the time there were no such things as automatic sprinkler heads, the system was connected to an elevated reservoir; the water was delivered to the site of a fire through pipes that were perforated with small holes. In the event of a fire the water was let into the pipes once the supply was manually turned on.
In the latter half of the 19th century there was considerable work being done to automate a fire suppression system. Perhaps the first person to fully understand and implement fire sprinkler system design in NJ was a gentleman named Grinnell, a name still recognized to this day. Grinnell has been credited with developing the glass disc sprinkler head which, although now outdated, was the inspiration behind today’s sophisticated systems.
Basically, fire sprinkler system design in NJ consists of a network of pipes, strategically located throughout the building to be protected. Sprinkler heads are fitted to the pipes, the system is under constant pressure, the pressure and the flow of the water is controlled through a series of valves. The system invariably starts with a large diameter pipe; other smaller diameter pipes branch off the main feed. There are existing systems that are operated manually but the greatest majority systems are fully automated, the sprinklers are triggered by a series of sensors, in this way only the sprinklers that are needed to tackle the fire are triggered, saving the rest of the building from a dousing.
In the past, effective fire sprinkler systems were seen as an option, today there are laws that dictate where systems are required; basically where a large number of people congregate there must be a sprinkler system installed. The fire sprinkler system design in NJ takes into account the size of the building as well as the anticipated number and locale of people.
Fire sprinkler system design in NJ is one of the primary services offered by Newark Professional Fire Protection Corp. You are invited to call for information on sprinkler design, installation, maintenance and inspections.
