With Sprinkler Week 2018 under way, we dispel some of the common myths surrounding sprinkler systems. Each myth is dispelled with proven facts. With fire and rescue services across the country encouraging businesses and local authorities to retro fit sprinklers, here’s your chance to get the facts.

 

When there is a fire all the sprinklers go off at once.

Wrong. Each head is independent and only the head(s) adjacent to the fire go off as the heads are activated by heat and not smoke

 

Sprinklers can go off accidentally.

Wrong. Records show that the chance of an accidental discharge from sprinklers is in the region of 16 million to one. They will only go off if there is a fire which increases the heat beyond the defined sprinkler trigger point (typically 135 to 165°F (57.2 to 73.9°C).

 

Water damage is as bad as fire damage.

Wrong. A typical sprinkler discharges 55 litres per minute. A firefighting hose discharges over 600 litres per minute. You can expect sprinklers to discharge less than 5% of the water used by the fire service.

 

Sprinklers are very expensive.

 

Wrong. The costs of installing them are roughly equivalent to carpeting the same building in new buildings. However, damage from fires can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds – sometimes running into millions of pounds. Losses from fires in buildings protected with sprinklers, in comparison, are estimated to be one-tenth of those in unprotected buildings. Fitting sprinklers can save money in some areas – insurers will often offer premium discounts to premises with sprinklers, and policy excesses may be lower.

 

Invest in a sprinkler tank

Convinced that sprinklers are well worth the outlay? Invest in a sprinkler tank to ensure water is always on standby to fight a fire. Contact Nationwide Water Solutions Limited. It supplies, installs and maintains sprinkler tanks across the UK.