Fire suppression systems, specifically for fully sprinklered buildings, have dramatically decreased the number of fire-related deaths over the years. Fire containment and suppression by sprinkler systems limit the spread of fire and increase evacuation time available for building occupants.
Sprinkler and standpipe systems are often combined, although the extent of piping used for sprinkler systems is far greater than piping used for standpipes. Sprinkler coverage requires that vertical riser piping and branch piping extend to all areas of each building floor.
Given the extent of piping, failure of a sprinkler pipe, potentially caused by pipe failure or a blast event, would render the standpipe system inoperable for fire department use, in addition to quickly exhausting the fire reserve. Dedicated, vertical standpipe systems can be more easily protected from failure than horizontal sprinkler systems. Vertical piping can be encased within hardened shafts, which can be integrated with hardened enclosures for stairwells or fire vestibules.
Enhanced Fire Suppression System should consideration below aspect:
1. Reliability of water source
2. Redundant fire pumps
3. Types of fire pumps, e.g., electric, diesel
4. Interconnection of water services
5. Quick-acting check valves
6. Separation of sprinkler and standpipe systems
7. Location and/or vulnerability of fire-protection piping
8. Flow limiting or flow shut-off valves
Sprinkler system reliability depends on water availability, with minimal opportunity for system failures in the event of a fire or emergency. Tamper and basic flow alarms identify when the system may not be prepared to deliver water when needed.
The value of introducing other water flow control measures, such as automatic valves, in high-risk installations to provide flow limiting or flow shut-off valves on sprinkler systems should be assessed. These valves would limit flow or shut-off on excessive flow, such as a pipe break, thereby conserving the water supply.