FIRECAT FUNCTIONS & BENEFITS

1. GENERAL

1.1 Your home fire sprinkler system is designed to:

  • Activate quicky once the operating temperature (57'C - 77'C) is reached check temps,
  • Discharge water only from the sprinkler that is activated by the fire,
  • Discharge water at a rate of 50 to 100 liters per minute when activated,
  • Prevent fire within the home becoming a threat to life,
  • Allow you and other occupants of your home to escape from the fire, and
  • Automatically extinguish or control a fire within a sprinkler protected room.

1.2 Your home fire sprinkler system is not designed to:

  • Provide early warning to the occupants by means of a water flow alarm, (in some cases, it will be possible to provide such an alarm, which maybe linked into a home security system).  For this reason, smoke alarms are an integral part of the total life safety system within the home,
  • Automatically notify the Fire Service,
  • Automatically shut the sprinkler water flow off after activation,
  • Fully control or extinguish a fire:

               - which originates in a non-sprinkler protected area before spreading to a sprinkler protected area,

               - where combustible material is not the amount or type of material normally found in a home,

               - where unauthorised changes have been made to the plumbing system after installation, or

               - when the fire starts under an obstruction such as a desk or workbench.

2. SPRINKLER SYSTEM COMPONENTS

2.1 Smoke alarms

Smoke alarms form an integral and necessary part of the whole life safety system although they are not connected in any way to the sprinkler system.

Smoke alarm coverage may extend beyond sprinkler coverage to provide an enhanced fire early warning system.  It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the location of all smoke alarms.

With hard-wired smokw alarms, a registered electrician should carry out any electrical wiring work required.

If the smoke alarms use batteries, it is recommended that they be changed on 'daylight saving' changeover days; e.g. 'change your clock, change your smoke alarm battery.'

2.2 Water supply

The domestic water supply is used for both domestic use and for fire suppression when required.  The system has been designed to ensure that the amount of water required to control the fire is available at the most remote sprinklers.  The system has also been operationally tested and has been certified as meeting all design specification requirements.

2.3 water supply shut-off valve

The water supply shut-off valve outside your house will shut off water to your home.  It will also shut down the sprinkler system.

2.4 Domestic water isolating valve

A domestic water isolating valve may be fitted.  This will shut off domestic water supply but leave the sprinkler system still operational.  This is used when changing tap washers etc.

2.5 Sprinkler system pressure gauge

A pressure gauge is fitted which will provide a 24 hour reading of the water pressure.  The minimum pressure required to operate the sprinkler system will be marked on the gauge so that you can always check the system is supplied with the correct water pressure.

2.6 Sprinkler system pipework

The sprinkler system pipework is a stand alone independant system run in a closed loop.  All pipework is normally full with water at all times.

2.7 'Home' sprinkler

Home sprinklers have a high trajectory to ensure coverage of walls and floors that may be constructed of, or covered with, combustible materials, as opposed to a conventional "umbrella" pattern given by sprinklers used for commercial applications.

The fire sprinklers fitted in your home are "Quick Response" sprinklers.  These are small, high-sensitive devices activated by heat that either melts a specialised solder link or shatters a small liquid filled bulb.  "Quick response" means that the sprinkler is fitted with a "Fast Response" element and must operate within 75 seconds under test conditions when the pre-set temperature is reached.

2.8 Areas not covered by the sprinkler system

The following areas have been assesed as not requiring sprinkler coverage:

  • Unattached garages (unless used for sleeping),
  • Toilets and bathrooms,
  • Laundry,
  • Wardrobes,
  • Sub-floor areas, and
  • Ceiling void.

The decision on whether or not to install sprinklers in these areas is made on the risk assessment that considers the likihood of a fire in this type of space based on past statistics, actual intended use of the space in question and floor area of the actual space itself.  This does not mean that sprinklers cannot be fitted, if required, which will further increase the degree of fire protection.

3. MODIFICATIONS TO PLUMBING SYSTEM AFTER INSTALLATION

Any system extenstion, modification or alteration to the domestic plumbing should be carried out by a qualified installer who is responsible for ensuring that the sprinkler system remains fully functional.

4. RECOMMENDED DAY-TO-DAY PRACTICES

The following are recommended:

  • Familiarise yourself with the location and operation of the water supply shut-off valve, the sprinkler system pressure gauge and test cock,
  • Discuss the evacuation plan with all occupants of your home in case of fire,
  • Inspect the sprinklers on a regular basis for onstructions, paint or mechanical damage.  If sprinklers are mechanically damaged or painted, they must be replaced.  Pay careful attention to the sprinkler bulb.  It will normally be fitted with a red, yellow or orange liquid, and contain a small air bubble, around the size of the head of a pin.  If the bulb is empty, or the bubble is appreciably bigger than this, the sprinkler has been damaged and will not work.  Some sprinklers are concealed behind cover plates so the bulb cannot be seen,
  • Record any maintenance, servicing or modification to your sprinkler system,
  • Do not do anything to your sprinkler system that will hinder its performance such as painting any part of the assembly or hanging objects from the sprinkler or cover plate if fitted as the sprinkler discharge pattern is critical for proper fire protection.  If any painting is being carried out adjacent to a sprinkler, the sprinkler should be covered with a small paper bag and/or carefully masked off to prevent paint splatter or spray drift onto the sprinkler.  The protective covering should be removed as soon as painting is completed in the compartment,
  • NOTE - Sprinklers are delicate devices.  Pleae be careful not to know or damage the bulbs, to ensure that the sprinklers do not activate accidentally.
  • Check and clean smoke alarms each month or as per the manufacturer's instructions,
  • The sprinklers fitted in your home will require testing by a qualified installer every twenty years.  Other maintenance may be required only when a sprinkler has either been mechanically damaged or following activation and/or exposure to fire.
  • The sprinkler system should be tested on a monthly and annual basis as specified in Appendix F.

5. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE

In the event of a fire:

  • Ensure that all occupants are alerted, have exited the house and remin outside,
  • While exiting, close the door to the room where the fire is located,
  • Phone 000 and ask for the Fire Service.  Gove your address, nearest cross street and any other information required, and
  • The water supply should not be turned off until it is confirmed that the fire is completely out.
  • Also, it is important to know, sprinklers that have operated in a fire cannot be re-assembled and must be replaced, (check with the installer for minimum replacement requirements).

6. SPRINKLER OPERATION UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS

During fire conditions, the temperature around a sprinkler will approach the operating temperature as hot gases rise to the ceuiling.  At this time with concealed type sprinkler models, a cover plate will detach and fall away.

Continued heating of a sprinkler at the operating temperature will cause it to operate, releasing the waterseal.  Water will immediately flow through the sprinkler orifice and strike the deflector, discharging water over a specified area of coverage as determined by the water supply pressure and the type of deflector fitted.

Because the water spray will immediately cool the hot gases from the fire, other adjacent sprinklers may not be activated.  The water spray will reach the burning material, cooling it below its combustion temperature to extinguish or control the fire.