Burn Out!
Well-maintained building sprinkler system critical
The fire sprinkler has been called the “silent sentry”: on guard at all times to defend buildings against fire. Before the 1870s – back when smokers, arsonists and fireplaces represented the only real fire dangers – there was generally no need for fire sprinklers. But with the spread of electricity, space- and hot-water-heating equipment, and the proliferation of modern appliances, the potential for fire has increased. And so have the presence of fire sprinkler systems and the need to properly maintain them.
Today, 10 U.S. manufacturers produce more than 900 different styles of sprinkler heads. The seemingly endless array is categorized by the occupancy of the structure to be protected by them: general use, institutional, residential, attics, special hazards and storage. Most of the various sprinkler heads now installed contain a glass bulb with a measured amount of fluid inside. When heated, the fluid expands, shattering the bulb and activating the sprinkler system.
The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) considers sprinkler systems to be the single best tool to protect lives and property from fire. But for sprinklers to perform reliably, they must be properly installed, inspected and maintained. Unfortunately, a 1993 study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that improper sprinkler system installation or maintenance causes them not to operate effectively 8 percent of the time.
Those in the fire sprinkler industry are doing their part to ensure sprinklers can be relied on to perform when needed. Nine U.S. manufacturers have joined forces to fund an outside audit of their industry’s quality assurance practices and testing. And fire sprinkler installers continually strive to keep up with the strict guidelines pertaining to new and rapidly advancing sprinkler technology. Individual building owners and managers must also take an active role in sprinkler maintenance. Sprinkler systems need to be inspected regularly for leaks, rust or microbiologically influenced corrosion. Left unrepaired, these conditions could have catastrophic consequences. By performing periodic checkups, building operators can ensure their systems are ready to uphold the fire sprinkler’s excellent record of saving lives and property.
Crane Engineering is a member of the NFSA and has an active role in the Minnesota chapter. The company has been called on to perform failure analysis of defective sprinkler heads.
-David J. Kramer, P.E., Metallurgical Engineer
Sprinkler Manufacturer Announces Replacement Program
Central Sprinkler has announced a replacement program for sprinkler models GB and others that contain O-rings and have been manufactured since 1988. The company will supply replacement sprinklers and the labor needed to install the new equipment.
Testing by Underwriters’ Laboratories has shown that some of these sprinklers require unacceptably high operating pressures when activated by heat. The problem is reportedly associated with leakage past an O-ring seal that results in corrosion – which may or may not be visible during normal system inspection.
For more information on the replacement program, call Central at (866) 505- 8553 or visit the company’s Web site at <www.sprinklerreplacement.com>.