Understanding the Role of Fire Sprinklers and Hydrants in Building Safety

Fire accidents are one of the most caused accidents in buildings and are very dangerous, yet fire safety is often overlooked as an unnecessary expense. Approximately, 1 million fire accidents take place in India every year. As a result, there are many innocent lives lost and many more casualties. No one can anticipate the fire, it starts small and destroys everything that it touches. It is now important more than ever to understand the importance of fire safety. Whether you are a homeowner, businessman, or a corporate boss, protect your living and working spaces with reliable fire hydrants and sprinkler systems to avoid these accidents. In this blog, let us discuss the role of these fire sprinklers and hydrants in maintaining the safety of the building.

Fire hydrants and sprinkler systems

Fire hydrants

Fire hydrant systems are safe water outlets that are installed inside the building. These are connected to the reliable hoses in the building. You might have seen red colored boxes ( hose boxes) with a pipe(hose reel) inside them, these are connected to the fire hydrant valves. When there is a fire accident in the building, these outlets can be used to suppress the fire effectively.

Components of fire hydrants

Fire pump - The heart of the system that has all the necessary pumps.
Water sump - A source of water supply that provides water.
Hydrant hose boxes - The access points to eject water in times of danger.
Valves and controls - They regulate the flow of water.
Pressure regulation - Makes sure that the flow of the water is consistent.

Components of fire hydrants

Fire sprinkler systems act as a more effective and reliable way to suppress fire. These systems are connected to a fire sump for water supply, making them reliable solutions. Sprinkler systems are also intelligent as they detect the presence of fire and start operating without any intervention from humans. These systems are installed across the building to the roofs and are very effective because they start working immediately based on the temperature of the room.

Components of sprinkler systems

Sprinkler heads - The main component of the system that sprinkles water.
Sprinklers - Water storage units.
Flow switch - Electromechanical device that monitors the flow of the water.
Sprinkler bulb - Heat detecting elements.
Deflectors - Allows to spray the water in a specific direction.

Role of Fire Hydrants and Sprinkler Systems

Prevention: These systems prevent the fire from escalating by ejecting water in times of danger. They allow you to detect flames and address the problem effectively and when the temperature of the room reaches the threshold temperature, the bulb automatically bursts and spreads the water across the room.

Fire Control: Fire hydrants are placed at precise locations that can be reached immediately to spray water for controlling and extinguishing fires. Sprinkler systems work automatically they target areas affected by the fire and spray water effectively to control the fire.

Reduces Property Damage: These systems reduce property damage by containing and suppressing fire. They limit the damage that can be caused by flames, smoke, and heat to the facilities.

Coverage: Fire hydrants and sprinklers are placed strategically at target locations. A ceiling-mounted sprinkler bulb when mounted at a height of 3-4 metres typically covers 1.5 meters of space underneath it. For hydrant, the length of the hose reel (pipe) typically ranges from 15-17 meters length.

Automatic Function: Fire sprinklers work automatically based on the temperature of the room with intelligent smoke and heat sensors. This eliminates manual intervention and provides 24/7 protection.

Conclusion

All in all, fire hydrants and sprinklers are important in protecting both the people and assets of the building. It must never be overlooked, as money spent on safety is money saved on repairing the damage. Remember prevention is always better than cure, invest in reliable sprinklers and hydrants today and secure your living and working spaces. Each of these systems has its own advantages, the hydrants are more suitable for fire accidents of larger volume and is best suited for places that are more prone to it. Sprinklers are effective in limited spaces offering automatic solutions for fire accidents.