Yesterday we held one of our FHC training days in association with Xact and were delighted to have 10 delegates, 2 of which travelled from South Africa to be with us.  What’s encouraging is that all the delegates take away useful techniques to help them use our software to its fullest extent, from complete beginners to those who have been using the software for many years.

A fire broke out at Marriotts School in Stevenage on the second floor of the main building in a toilet cubicle.  The sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire within minutes with minimal damage to the school building.  This has to be seen as another great example of a fire sprinkler system, saving both life and property. 

But apparently, there is a downside to the fire sprinkler saving the building as all the electrics had to be switched off, the school evacuated and pupils sent home. It's always interesting to see how the press has a negative spin on everything.  The fact that the sprinkler operated and did what it was meant to do properly saved more extensive damage means that pupils will be able to return to their education swiftly with minimal disruption.  The water released by the sprinklers will have been far less than would have been used in fighting a larger fire which is what would have happened is sprinklers were not installed. How many days with the school has been shut then?

The long-awaited revision to BS 9251 (fire sprinklers systems for domestic and residential occupancies – Code of practice) has now been published by BSI and is available to purchase through their website, the standard will come into effect from 31 October 2014. The new BS 9251 standard is a comprehensive revision and will help both designers and specifies provide excellent fire sprinkler protection to help protect the most vulnerable in our society.

FM Global has published a paper that explains corrosion in fire sprinkler protection systems and factors that affect it such as the pipe weld, residual water in dry pipe systems and the trapping of air in what pipe systems.

The report is extremely comprehensive both in analysing the causes and providing recommendations to alleviate the effects of such corrosion in fire protection systems. 

The full report can be downloaded from the FM Global website

 

This week I have been looking at VDS CEA 4001 guidance for sprinkler systems especially the hydraulic calculation section. I came across an interesting section that has not seen another standard, the ability to have a section a pipe in the hydraulic most favourable area of operation which is smaller than the supply pipe.  The purpose of this pipe is to help you to balance the most favourable area with the most remote area by producing a very high-pressure loss in a short section of pipe.  By bringing the 2 areas hydraulically closer together will give you a better QMax calculation and a saving in the required tank capacity.

After a year's work, BSI has issued BS 9251:2014(fire sprinkler systems for domestic and residential occupancies – code of practice) for public comment. The Revised standard is considerably changed from the 2005 version, providing more clarification and insight. One of the significant changes is that it has removed 'residential' and 'domestic' classifications in favour of type 1, type 2 and type 3 classifications. This is undoubtedly a move in the right direction and will be given much more flexibility.

We have just booked for the London fire sprinkler international 2014 conference. 

The two-day program is filled with international speakers from around Europe and the USA. Will provide a great opportunity for delegates to keep abreast of the latest developments and standards in fire sprinkler technology in an ever-changing market. It will also be interesting to see how other countries have developed the market and persuaded legislators of the benefits fire sprinkler systems.

The conference is to be held on the 20^th and 21^st May 2014 at the Trinity Suite, Grangetown bridge hotel, London. You can find out more information and booking information at the conferences website London fire sprinkler international 2014

The Conference program details the full programme of the conference over the two days

Canute look forward to attending the conference and meeting many of our customers.

 

 INSAT standards organization has published a draft standard pr INSTA 900-3 : 2013(E) - (Residential sprinkler systems — Part 3: Watermist systems equivalent to residential sprinklers). This standard continues the work of the Nordic group to produce a series of standards for Residential Sprinkler System and part three coves the test methods for alternative water base fire fighting systems as required in INSTA 900-1 and 2.

The INSTA 900-3  standard allows equivalency to be established using any of three different fire test protocols: UL 1626, FM 2030 or DD 8458. We are informed that it will not be long before DD 8458 to be converted into a full British Standard.

Canute LLP are pleased to announce that it has been accepted as a member of the European Fire Sprinkler Network. The EFSN is a coalition of fire safety, political and other relevant communities which encourages the use of fire sprinklers to save lives and protect property and the environment.

John Moore, partner at Canute LLP said "We are very pleased to be able to support the work of the EFSN and to be part of the wider fire sprinkler community in Europe. It's by working together that we can both educate and expand the market and help reduce fire deaths; helping to make the world a safer place"

The European Fire Sprinkler Network collects and distributes accurate information about fire losses and fire sprinklers, and connects and supports those who believe that fitting fire sprinklers is essential to help Europe save itself from fire.

Working with its members, the Network establishes contacts with those responsible for fire safety at a European level, so as to inform and educate them about the benefits of fire sprinklers.