How Fire Sprinkler Systems Work with Your Smoke Alarm
Almost every single property, no matter whether it is a home or a commercial building, will have a smoke alarm installed. Smoke alarms must be installed in social housing and on every single floor of a property owned by a landlord in the UK. By February 2022, all homes in Scotland must have an interlinked fire alarm, highlighting their importance. One fifth of all fire-related deaths occur in homes that do not have a fire alarm installed, so it is important to check that yours is working effectively. Although smoke alarms can warn of a fire, they cannot extinguish one, unlike a fire sprinkler system. These two systems can work perfectly together, reducing fire damage and saving lives.
A water sprinkler system is the best form of fire suppression; they are 99% effective, and work to extinguish a fire before it spreads to uncontrollable measures. Commercial or home sprinkler systems and smoke alarms can work efficiently together, so you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other…
It Doesn’t Have to be One Without the Other
Smoke alarms are the most popular form of fire safety found in all types of buildings. They work to detect the smoke emitted from a blaze, and warn any occupants of a vulnerable building to evacuate immediately. From this alert, homeowners can save everyone within their property and contact the fire department to get the blaze extinguished. However, fires spread quickly and may have caused significant damage to your property before the fire engines arrive.
By opting to install both a fire sprinkler system and a smoke alarm, you can provide extra protection for your home and those within it. People not only need to be protected from the harmful effects of a fire, but they also need to be warned in order to evacuate safely and efficiently. Water sprinkler systems can be fitted to suit the dimensions of your property, and can even be discreetly hidden behind concealed sprinkler heads. You can find out more on our website here.
Warning Of and Extinguishing a Fire
The main purpose of a smoke alarm is to warn anyone within a property that a fire is present. Once the fire starts producing smoke, it may already be at a level that is hard to control. Significant fire damage may already have taken place, and once the fire department arrives, they may add to the damage by causing excessive flooding. By installing a fire sprinkler system, you can extinguish a fire quickly, reducing fire and water damage significantly, as well as warning all property occupants of a fire.
Fire sprinkler systems also work to detect the heat from a fire rather than smoke, allowing for a quick reaction time. Sprinkler heads activate rapidly, dispensing all the water needed to extinguish a fire and keep water damage to an absolute minimum. Whilst your sprinkler system gets to work, your smoke alarm can loudly sound to warn that the property is currently unsafe.
Reducing Damage and Emotional Distress
As previously mentioned, having a smoke alarm without a sprinkler system can lead to excessive damage, although they are highly recommended in all kinds of properties. Smoke alarms, when working effectively, can help people evacuate a burning building, but they won’t extinguish the blaze. Fires spread quickly, and can cause irreversible damage. Sprinklers can save your property from this damage, and don’t have to wait for the fire department.
Fires can destroy lives and ruin precious items of meaning, causing great emotional distress. Although there may be no control over where the fire starts, sprinklers can quickly eradicate the flames, stopping it from spreading and causing even more damage and reducing the cost of repair.
How We Can Help; Our Fire Sprinkler Systems
Here at RAD Fire Sprinklers, we can design and install the perfect sprinkler system for your property, ensuring that it fits with your dimensions exactly. With years of experience in the fire sprinkler industry, we are leading experts that you can trust.
To find out more, or to receive a quote, please give us a call on 01892 680 090. Alternatively, you can fill out our online form here.