Fire sprinkler installations in NJ are extremely important in the protection of building, personnel and contents in the event of a fire. These systems are made up of a network of pipes of different diameters, the associated valves and sprinkler heads. The sprinkler heads are strategically located throughout a building; in the event of a fire the sprinkler head automatically douses the blaze with water. The release of water will either extinguish the blaze or at least retard it to the point where people in the building can reach safety. Fire sprinkler installations have been part of public buildings, manufacturing plants and office buildings for years and although they are primarily used in commercial buildings they can be used in residential homes as well.
The fire sprinkler system as it is known today can be traced back more than 200 years. There is ample evidence that pipes of different diameters were connected to a central source of water in a theatre in London in the early 1800s. The small diameter pipes were perforated with multiple small holes where water could be released in the event of a fire in selected areas of the theatre, including the stage.
Efforts to vastly improve on the system continued; the real breakthrough came with the invention of the glass vial sprinkler which remains in common use to this day.
Basic fire sprinkler installations in NJ are made up of a series of pipes that run throughout a building. These pipes are of different diameters but they all carry water from a source to sprinkler heads. The sprinkler heads are not placed randomly, the design of the system is quite complex as each sprinkler covers a certain floor area. The system also includes a series of valves which are used to control the water pressure, distribution and flow rate. There are very few systems left that require human intervention to work; most fire sprinkler installations in NJ today are fully automatic.
In the past fire sprinklers were not a requirement, they were an option for public buildings. Today, wherever large numbers of people gather in a building, the building must be protected with a sprinkler system. Most jurisdictions have very strict regulations that must be adhered to; these standards are often based on the allowable capacity of the room plus the size of the structure. To ensure that the systems are “at the ready” regular inspections are conducted.
For over 30 years Newark Professional Fire Protection Corp has been involved in fire sprinkler installations in NJ. You are invited to discuss your fire protection needs with the professionals at Newark Prof Fire Protection.
