Fire Sprinkler Facts

Did you know that, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 92% of civilian structure fire deaths were at a home? It is a scary statistic, but it also highlights the need for fire sprinklers in Minneapolis homes. As a matter of fact, homes throughout the country (and even the world) can definitely benefit from working fire sprinklers. Here are a few more facts about these life-saving fire suppression devices.

• No matter how old your home is, fire sprinklers are a proven way to help fight a fire if one ever breaks out. They can be installed in older homes. Plus, they are now required by Minnesota law in all new homes that are more than 4500 square feet in size.
• It only takes three minutes for a home fire to become deadly, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Furniture nowadays is made out of materials that are more flammable than they used to be. These materials can quickly ignite and spread the fire, making it difficult for the home’s occupants to get out.
• Fire sprinklers are just as important as fire alarms in terms of helping the home’s occupants get out safely. Fire alarms will alert you that there is a problem. When the fire sprinklers turn on, they can suppress the fire enough that you and your family members have a chance to get out safely.
• Fire sprinklers are made in such a way that they work independently of one another. So you don’t have to worry that, just because one sprinkler goes off, all of the other ones will too. And they are activated by high levels of heat, so burning a piece of toast will not set them off.
• Regular inspections of your fire sprinklers by Brothers Fire Protection can help ensure they are working properly when it matters the most. Generally, they do not need a lot of maintenance.
• You can have the pipes insulated if you are worried about the water in the fire sprinklers freezing during the winter months.

Do you need more information about fire sprinklers in Minneapolis? Then call Brothers Fire Protection at 1-800-607-2767 or contact us for a Life Safety Quote.

Freezing Locations Require Dry Pipe Fire Protection Systems

The most common type of Maple Grove fire protection system in use is the water sprinkler system, with the most popular being the wet pipe system. Wet pipe systems are filled completely with water up to the sprinkler heads, which, when activated, has water immediately available to douse the fire.

In areas where there is a danger of freezing, however, a dry pipe system is used. Areas that are more likely to have a dry pipe system include unheated warehouses, parking garages and cold storage plants. Dry pipe system do not allow water to be admitted to any portion of the pipe that could be exposed to freezing temperatures.

All piping that could be exposed to freezing temperatures is pressurized with compressed air or nitrogen, and this pressurization is done from the sprinkler heads back to the non-freezing area. A check valve will allow water to flow in the direction of the sprinkler heads, but it is held back by the gas pressure in the low temperature exposed fire protection area.

A sprinkler head will open when it senses the heat from a fire, allowing the gas to escape, lowering the pressure and allowing water to flow out. There is some delay before the water actually reaches the sprinkler head because it must purge out all gas to get to the sprinkler head. The fire code calls for systems to be designed so that water is available in less than a minute.

Fire Protection for Your Business

Nobody wants to think about dealing with a fire and the damage it does to a home or business. Fires are just one of those things that are beautiful when contained in a fireplace but horrific when they ravage your home or business! 

But, is it really all that important to have a high end Minnesota fire protection system in place?  Isn’t that just for large corporations? Not necessarily. A fire protection plan is vital, no matter how large, or small your company is.

In fact, a recent study by the NFPA shows that when a building is protected with operating sprinklers, that, in the event of fire, the average property loss is reduced by one-half to two-thirds when compared to companies that did not have a sprinkler system. And, even more importantly, deaths are reduced by as much as 50-75%. Thankfully, there is fire protection steps you can take to reduce (perhaps eradicate) your risk of fire to your business. 

These fire protection steps begin with having a fire suppression system. These suppression systems include fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, integrated security application and fire extinguishers. Each of these have features that make them suited for a specific environment, though they can be installed to suit your facility’s needs.

Today’s technology has brought about many advances in a plethora fields. One of these is in the fire protection field. Now there are a variety of ways you can protect your business. Here at Brothers Fire, we offer several choices that can help you.

Choosing an Effective Fire Suppression System

There are few things more important than protecting your loved ones and property. The best way to do this is to have an effective fire suppression system installed. That way, if a fire should break out, the system will protect your property until firefighters arrive on the scene. But, how do you go about picking a Minnesota fire suppression system company to install it? We discussed this in an article a while back and noted:

The first step in selecting a system is to determine your budget. The higher the price tag, the more features in the system. After you have decided how much you're willing to allocate, you should make some calls and do some research. Contact your local fire department to find out what firms they would recommend to install a system. Ask those with systems who they hired to set them up. Find out if these contractors are properly certified and commissioned, and see what their reputation is like.

Fire suppression systems become more expensive depending on the included features. You have to be comfortable with spending whatever amount you eventually decide on. Getting the opinion of your local fire department for systems and firms can help save you from having to do a lot of research into what system to get. You want to make sure that before you jump into anything, you have all have the necessary information.

Read the entire article: "How To Choose An Effective Fire Suppression System."