Which Fire Sprinkler System is Right for Your Facility?
The general concept of a fire sprinkler system has been around since the early 1800s and consisted of a manually-operated system using perforated pipes to deliver water to an area. By the late 1800s, the first automated…
Choosing the Right Fire Sprinkler – Part 2
In the Part 1 of Choosing the Right Fire Sprinkler, we reviewed sprinkler basics, temperature ratings, and K-factor. In Part 2, we’ll look at installation orientation, response type, design and performance characteristics, and…
Choosing the Right Fire Sprinkler – Part 1
Choosing the right fire sprinkler is critical to the success of a sprinkler system in controlling or extinguishing a fire. Sprinklers should be chosen by evaluating the occupancy, hazards, and conditions (ceiling height, type…
Don’t Lose Your Cool… High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) Fans and Sprinklers
In the late 1990’s, dairy farmers were looking for a way to reduce heat stress on their cows, but providing air conditioning in a barn was not economically feasible, and small box fans did not provide the coverage needed. The…
ESFR Obstructions…The Achilles Heel!
In a recent post, we discussed the history of sprinkler technology. This week, we’ll look at ESFR restrictions and obstructions. Because of the operating principles around which ESFR technology is based, any delay in sprinkler…
The History of Sprinkler Technology
Photo credit: Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Library, St. John’s University Sprinkler protection has evolved over time from a simple system of uncharged pipes with perforations in 1874, to present day sprinkler systems that…
Eglin Incident: Weather, Water, and What We Learned
Following the incident at Eglin Air Force Base’s Hangar 130, an investigation produced recommendations regarding High Expansion Foam (HEF) suppression systems in three major areas: “changes to HEF suppression system…
Hangar 130: Crucial Lessons in Safety and Prevention
The high expansion foam (HEF) system incident in Hangar 130 at Eglin Air Force Base that occurred early in 2014 left a tragic impression on everyone involved. There were questions to answer: What caused the system to trigger?…
High Expansion Foam: Risks and Rewards
On January 8, 2014, a High Expansion Foam (HEF) fire suppression system was unintentionally activated in a Florida aircraft hangar. This unfortunate incident in Hangar 130 at Eglin Air Force Base turned to tragedy when a…
The Fire Sprinkler Debate: Controversy and Dissent in a Curious Place
It seems pretty straightforward; fire sprinkler systems save lives and property, so we should all have them. And, in a way, it is that simple. The commercial real estate industry already has regulations in place with regards to…
Solar Photovoltaic Panels: California’s Move Toward Safe Installation
We recently exchanged insights with an industry friend on the subject of solar panels. In increasing numbers, companies are further monetizing their real estate assets by leasing warehouse roofs for the installation of solar…
The Residential Component: Are Fire Sprinklers Moving into Our Homes?
Over the past several years, sprinkler systems have been a hot topic in the residential real estate scene. While many local jurisdictions already require sprinklers to be installed in multifamily structures, the same is not…
Fire Sprinkler Design and Building Code: What You Need to Know
The most effective fire prevention technique is the one that is the most tailor-made for the facility. A system that works for a 4,500 sq. ft. software company, for example, would look very different from the one designed for…
Sprinkler Systems – An Introduction to Fire Safety’s Most Effective Ally
If you hold a cigarette lighter underneath a sprinkler, every sprinkler in the building will suddenly activate and spew water, right? Wrong. The heat from the lighter will cause only one sprinkler to operate, the one that feels…
Fire Safety Design Considerations of Road Tunnels
We recently published a guest post about emergency evacuations from our colleagues at Graphic Packaging that mentioned the Mont Blanc tragic tunnel fire. Shortly after we published the blog, I had the opportunity to attend an…