Design and installation of automatic water fire extinguishing systems for industrial, administrative buildings and warehouses

Design and installation of automatic water fire extinguishing systems for industrial, administrative buildings and warehouses

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The popularity of automatic water fire extinguishing systems is due to the properties of water. It is available at almost any facility and has a low cost, while its chemical and physical parameters make water an indispensable means of extinguishing fires: Large heat capacity ensures a reduction in temperatures even in hard-to-reach places; Chemical neutrality to a variety of materials allows water extinguishing to be used in areas with some flammable substances. When sprayed, water prevents oxygen from reaching the fire; In combination with special foaming additives, water quickly and effectively eliminates fire even over large areas.

Why is water the best way to extinguish fires?

The popularity of automatic water fire extinguishing systems is due to the properties of water. It is available at almost any facility and has a low cost, while its chemical and physical parameters make water an indispensable means of extinguishing fires:

Large heat capacity ensures a reduction in temperatures even in hard-to-reach places;
Chemical neutrality to a variety of materiaals allows water extinguishing to be used in areas with some flammable substances.
When sprayed, water prevents oxygen from reaching the fire;
In combination with special foaming additives, water quickly and effectively eliminates fire even over large areas.

Application area

Although water extinguishing systems have a wide range of applications, their use is strictly prohibited under certain circumstances. This is due to another property of water – high electrical conductivity. Thus, at facilities with a large amount of electrical equipment, with the presence of high-voltage installations and live equipment, water extinguishing agents are unacceptable; special fire extinguishing methods have been developed for these conditions.

Another exception is places where flammable liquids accumulate - gasoline, acetone, turpentine, fuel oil and others. These substances are lighter than water, so they float to its surface and continue to burn. It is also unacceptable to use these agents to extinguish materials that react with water (calcium, magnesium).

If there are no special antifreeze additives in the water, the use of water fire extinguishing equipment in conditions of low external temperatures is prohibited.

In all other cases, automatic water fire extinguishing is relevant. For example, installation is possible in the following rooms:

Shopping centers;
Sports objects;
Kindergartens, schools and other educational institutions;
Parking lots and garages;
Medical institutions, hospitals;
Administrative buildings;
Business centers.

Advantages of automatic water fire extinguishing

In addition to the advantages of water itself, water fire extinguishing systems are distinguished by the following properties:

Economical. The costs of developing, transporting and installing an automatic system are minimal.
Variety of designs. The design is carried out taking into account the characteristics of the protected object and the types of materials located in the extinguishing zone.
Versatility. You can use the water fire extinguishing installation locally, limited to one room, there and throughout the entire area of the building.

Components of water installations

A water fire extinguishing system consists of many elements, without which it is impossible to organize complete fire protection. Depending on the technical requirements, the components and parts of the design may be modified, but the following components are always the basis:

Pumping systems;
Water supply pipelines and distribution installations;
Control units (sprinkler/deluge);
Fire shut-off valves;
Sprinklers;

One of the most important parts of a fire water installation is the sprinklers.

Types of water fire extinguishing

In accordance with GOST R 50680-94, depending on the type of sprinklers, water fire extinguishing installations are divided into two types: sprinkler and deluge.

sprinkler

Sprinklers have a special thermal lock that responds to changes in ambient temperature. The operating principle is as follows: water is first pumped into the fire extinguishing system and stored under pressure; it is discharged through a hole in the sprinkler, blocked by a lock. When a fire occurs and the temperature in the protected room rises, the sensitive element (thermal lock) is triggered, which leads to the automatic opening of the sprinkler and the start of spraying water on the flame.

The sprinkler system equipment is activated only in the area where a critical temperature change was recorded. Local fire extinguishing occurs, which avoids damage to property in other areas of the facility and the consequences of flooding if the system is falsely triggered.

Deluge

Deluge sprinklers do not have a thermal lock and a locking element that closes the hole of the sprinkler; therefore, extinguishing does not occur locally as with drencher systems, but over the entire area of the protected room. After smoke or an increase in temperature has been detected by the fire alarm sensors, a signal is received to start the deluge valve, as well as turn on the fire pumps, and extinguishing begins.
The advantages of the deluge system include the ability to effectively protect premises from the spread of fire by creating a powerful fire curtain.

How does the design work?

When designing water fire extinguishing, special regulatory documents are used, such as SP 5.13130. 2009 “Fire protection systems”. In accordance with them, as well as depending on the object and customer requirements, the extinguishing systems are planned.

To draw up a project, you need all the input data about the room, its area and layout, information about the nearest water sources and the condition of the water pipelines. Information about the materials used in the construction of the building, their degree of flammability and reaction to water is also taken into account. Next, together with the customer, the level of fire load, the temperature regime inside the room and the type of mixture that will be used for irrigation are determined - pure water, a water-foam mixture or water with special additives. Then the type of sprinkler (sprinkler or deluge) and the intensity of the water flow are selected. The location of sensors and process pipes of the system is designed, and hydraulic calculations are performed. Hydraulic calculations begin from the sprinkler furthest from the control node, taking the minimum pressure in front of the sprinkler as the initial figure, and calculate the pressure loss in the pipeline moving towards the control node. After receiving data on pressure losses in the system, the required water pressure is selected, which should be provided by fire pumps, taking into account these losses.

Next, a financial document is drawn up, an estimate that indicates monetary expenses, the volume of materials and work. Before starting design work, all structural elements of the system are checked for compliance with standards.

You should not try to design and install an automatic water fire extinguishing system yourself. Without proper education and lack of experience, this will lead to material and human losses.

Installation features

Installation of automatic water fire extinguishing systems, as well as design, is carried out in accordance with the norms and regulations documented at the legislative level. Simplified, installation of extinguishing systems is carried out in the following order:

Preparing the site for installation work;
Communications supply;
Installation of tanks;
Installation of pumps, control units, shut-off valves and sprinklers;
Checking all connection nodes;
System testing.

Conclusion

In order to maximally protect the facility from fire, minimize losses in the event of a fire and incur minimal costs for installing an automatic water fire extinguishing system, you should contact professionals. Even minor flaws can lead to serious consequences. Not only your material assets, but also people’s lives directly depend on the quality of the drafted project and its implementation!