Automatic fire sprinkler systems are widely regarded as one of the most effective and reliable methods of controlling a fire to safeguard both people and property.

Argus Fire Protection has over 100 years of combined experience with the design, on-going service, maintenance, testing and compliance management of fire sprinkler systems. We are able to offer tailored and cost effective solutions utilising the latest technology and complying with a range of local and international standards and codes.

How Sprinklers
Work

For a typical fire sprinkler system, sprinklers are installed across the ceiling at a regular spacing throughout the protected building and connected to a water piping network that is constantly filled with water under pressure.

How Fire
Sprinkler Systems
Work

 

The simplest, most common and most reliable type of automatic fire sprinkler system is a wet pipe sprinkler system.

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A wet pipe fire sprinkler system consists of a piping network supplying automatic sprinklers spaced throughout the protected building. The piping network is permanently charged with water under pressure.

 

When a sprinkler is operated water is discharged onto the fire and the flow of water is detected at the sprinkler control valves, causing a signal to be sent to the fire service.

 

Other types of fire sprinkler systems are available to suit specific applications such as Preaction, Dry and Deluge.

 

Reliability

Since the first fire sprinkler systems were installed in New Zealand in the late 1880s, approved sprinklers have achieved their function of controlling fires in better than 99.5% of fires in which they have operated2.

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A common misconception is that sprinklers accidentally activate with monotonous regularity. This is not the case, the rate of faulty activation according to the Insurance Council of New Zealand is of the range of one in 16 million sprinklers which is much lower than the chances of a fire occurring in any given building3.

References
1. Fire Protection Association New Zealand Inc., Fire Sprinklers, Retrieved 2008, http://www.fireprotection.org.nz/sprinklers.htm
2. NZS4541:2007 – Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems, Standards New Zealand, Standards Council, 2007.
3. New Zealand Fire Service, Building Safety: Engineering FAQ’s, Retrieved 2008,http:// www.fire.org.nz/building/faq/engineering_faq.htm