Transcript control 96% of fires in sprinkler-protected buildings

FIREFIGHTER I • LESSON 15
TS 15–1
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
DESIGN AND OPERATION
• Series of sprinklers arranged to automatically
distribute enough water to extinguish or check
fire
• Water is supplied to sprinklers through a piping
system
• System’s sprinkler heads discharge water after a
cap or plug is released by a heat-responsive
element
TS 15–2
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
ADVANTAGES
• Most reliable
• Most effective (control 96% of fires in sprinklerprotected buildings)
• Less business interruption
• Less water damage
• Enhance life safety
• Reduce insurance costs
TS 15–3
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
MAIN CONTROL VALVE
• Purpose — Cutting off the water supply to the system
so that sprinklers can be replaced, maintenance
performed, or operations interrupted
• Location — Immediately under the sprinkler alarm
valve, the dry-pipe or deluge valve, or outside the
building near the system connections
• Position after maintenance — Open
• Type — Manual indicating valve
TS 15–4
CAUSES OF
SPRINKLER FAILURE
• Partially or completely closed main water control
valve
• Interruption to municipal water supply
• Damaged or painted-over sprinklers
• Frozen or broken pipes
• Excess debris or sediment in pipes
• Failure of a secondary water supply
• Tampering and vandalism
TS 15–5
SITUATIONS IN WHICH
SPRINKLERS ARE EFFECTIVE
• Preventing fire spread upwards in multiplestory buildings
• Protecting the lives of occupants in other parts
of the building
TS 15–6
SITUATIONS IN WHICH SPRINKLERS
MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE
• Fires too small to activate sprinkler system
• Smoke reaches occupants before sprinkler
system activates
• Sleeping, intoxicated, or handicapped persons
occupy fire building
TS 15–7
WATER SUPPLY SOURCES
Public Water System
Fire Pumps from Private Storage
Fire Department Connection (FDC)
TS 15–8
PURPOSES OF A FIRE
DEPARTMENT CONNECTION (FDC)
• Providing additional water and pressure to
boost the existing system in the event of a
large fire
• Providing backup water and pressure should a
pipe break
TS 15–9
FDC COMPONENTS & DIMENSIONS
• Siamese with at least two 2½-inch (65 mm)
female connections with a clapper valve, or
• One large-diameter connection connected to a
clappered inlet
TS 15–10
FDC CHECK VALVE
• Purpose — Preventing water flow back into FDC
while allowing water from FDC to flow into system
• Water flow — Direction indicated by arrows on valve
or appearance of valve casing
• Ball drip valve within — Keeping check valve and
connection dry and operational in freezing weather
TS 15–11
FDC HOSE SIZES &
MINIMUM PUMP CAPACITY
• Hose sizes
 Minimum of two 2½-inch (65 mm), or
 One large-diameter
• Minimum pump capacity for a pumper
supplying a sprinkler system — At least 1,000
gpm (4 000 L/min)
TS 15–12a
GUIDELINES FOR OPERATIONS
AT PROTECTED PROPERTIES
• Connect to FDC (earliest arriving pumper) per
pre-incident plan.
• Check to ensure that sprinkler system control
valves are open.
• Do not close sprinkler control valves until
ordered to do so by fire officer.
• Station a firefighter with a portable radio at
closed sprinkler control valve in case it needs
to be reopened.
TS 15–12b
GUIDELINES FOR OPERATIONS
AT PROTECTED PROPERTIES (cont.)
• Do not disconnect pumpers until after extinguishment has been determined by a thorough overhaul.
• Do not leave the premises until the sprinkler
system has been restored to service by a qualified
representative of the occupant.
TS 15–13
HOW TO SUPPLY ADEQUATE
WATER TO THE SYSTEM
• Limit use of direct hoselines from sprinkler
system water supply system.
• Establish a second water supply for hoselines
if necessary.
• Observe sprinkler discharge in the area of fire,
and maintain adequate pressure at pumper.
• Improve discharge from the sprinklers as
necessary by increasing pressure on system.
© Copyright 1998, Board of Regents, Oklahoma State University
All Rights Reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced
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