Are Fire Sprinkler Systems Environmentally Friendly?
As the years pass by, more and more people are looking for new ways to become more eco-friendly both in their homes and in their everyday lives. Finding more sustainable alternatives to activities that cause carbon emissions, such as driving, is becoming a popular trait. When it comes to installing fire sprinkler heads and systems, some people may believe that they possess damaging properties, which simply isn’t true. In fact, the truth is exactly the opposite. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, ‘just how environmentally friendly are fire sprinklers?’ there are a few important facts that you need to know…
Installing a fire sprinkler system in your home or commercial building not only saves lives and properties but did you know you could actually be doing the planet a favour too?
FM Global’s Ground-Breaking Study
Just over 10 years ago in 2010, American insurance company FM Global conducted a study into the environmental impact of fire sprinkler systems in homes. They carried out full-scale tests that compared homes with sprinklers to those without, and discovered surprising yet eye-opening results. They found that greenhouse gases released by fires in homes with automatic fire sprinkler systems installed were cut by a staggering 98%.
Fire damage was also reduced by 97%, and the water used to fight a fire was decreased by between 50 and 90%. This proves that sprinklers reduce pollution and water usage, as it is much better to have a sprinkler system present when a fire breaks out as opposed to letting the fire department spray gallons of water onto the building.
Fires release carbon emissions at an alarming rate. As they grow and spread, they can become uncontrollable, leading to the destruction of property and endangerment of life. When the fire department arrives, they can use gallons upon gallons of water to control the blaze, which can lead to flooding. When it comes to being environmentally friendly, sprinkler systems are the best choice, in every single way. You can watch the study by FM Global here.
Water Wastage Myths Debunked
Many people believe that automatic fire sprinkler systems can cause severe flooding in properties. Certain films and TV programmes in popular culture have led people to believe that, once a fire breaks out, all sprinkler heads within the building will activate, causing flooding in rooms that the fire isn’t even a threat to. In reality, this simply isn’t the case. Sprinklers work to detect the heat from a fire, and only activate the sprinklers in the near vicinity to localise the blaze. Only an appropriate amount of water will be dispensed, reducing the chances of flooding taking place.
If a fire breaks out in a building, a smoke alarm may give people time to evacuate and keep themselves safe. When the fire department arrive, the amount of water they will have to dispense is immense, considering the fire will have grown to a greater size. Fire sprinklers not only save lives, but save buildings, the surrounding areas and even the environment too. The environmentally friendly fire sprinklers benefits may not occur to most people, but as the country becomes more aware of the effects of climate change, these benefits are becoming more apparent.
The Full Benefits of Fire Sprinkler System Installation
The performance effectiveness of fire sprinkler systems is 99% across all building types. Sprinklers keep people and buildings safe, and are a requirement in buildings that are more than 11m tall. When you have hundreds of people in your building, they all need to feel as protected as possible. Sprinklers can make people feel safe and secure, safe in the knowledge that they will not only be made aware of a fire, but protected from it too. If you’re looking to boost your sustainability credentials as a business, as well as fire safety, sprinklers are a great place to start.
Here at RAD Fire Sprinklers, we design and install automatic fire sprinkler systems and fire mist systems to domestic, residential and commercial properties. To find out more, or to receive a quote, please visit us here, or give us a call on 01892 680 090.