A fire pump is a part of a fire sprinkler and standpipe system’s water supply and powered by electric, diesel or steam. The pump intake is either connected to the public underground water supply piping, or a static water source (e.g., tank, reservoir, lake). The pump provides water flow at a higher pressure to the fire sprinkler system risers and hose standpipes. A fire pump is tested and listed for its use specifically for fire service by a third-party testing and listing agency, such as UL or FM Global.
Fire Hydrant System
FIRE PUMP SET
- Electric Driven Fire PumpTechnical Submittal-Fire Pump
- Engine Driven Fire Pump (19 HP – 225 HP)
- Jokey Pump
- Fuel Tank (70-310 US Gallons)
- Three Separate Control Panels
DIFFERENT FIRE PUMPS
- Horizontal Split Case (500 usgpm – 1500 usgpm)
- End Suction Fire Pump (50 usgpm – 500 usgpm )
- VerticleTrubine Pump (50 usgpm – 1500 usgpm)
ACCESSORIES
- Air Release Valve
- Pressure Gauge
- Pressure Switch
- Flow Meter Station
- Pressure Relief Valve
- Battery
- Casing
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OS&Y Gate Valve (Flanged, Grooved etc)
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Supervisory/ Tamper Switch
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Swing Check /Non-Return Valve
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Butterfly valve with Supervisory Option
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Alarm Check Valve Assembly
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Pressure Switch
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Deluge Valve
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Y Strainer
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Fire Pump Flowmeter
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Air Release Valve
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Brass Ball Valve
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Test and Drain Valve
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Waterflow Indicator
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Pressure Gauge
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Pressure Reducing Valve
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Foot Valve
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Waste cone
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Anti-Vortex Plate
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Automatic Fire Sprinkler System
A fire sprinkler system is a simple, but key, active component of a domestic or commercial building’s fire protection system. Installed in ceilings or side walls, the system consists of a water supply, a water distribution piping system and sprinkler heads. The sprinkler discharges water automatically when a fire is detected, though it is not triggered by smoke. It controls or extinguishes the fire, so is both a fire detection and suppression system.
Fire Supression System
A fire suppression system, like a fire sprinkler system, is used to extinguish or control fires, and is activated by heat, smoke, or a combination of the two. However, a fire suppression system uses gaseous, chemical, or foam fire suppression agents to suppress the fire, rather than water.
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How does a fire suppression system work?
A fire suppression system will have built-in components to detect fires as early as possible. These components will first identify the presence of flames and smoke. The suppression system will then initiate an alarm, so the blaze can be subdued before it has the chance to spread. A fire suppression system can be considered an ‘active’ fire protection method because the system is triggered in response to the presence of fire. As will be explored further in this article, a fire suppression system also contains a range of components that ‘actively’ work to extinguish flames and smoke.
What is the difference between a fire sprinkler and a fire suppression system?
Both fire suppression systems and sprinkler systems can control or extinguish fires and are activated when detecting heat or smoke. A fire suppression system, however, doesn’t use water as it can be ineffective in certain types of fires. For example, a facility that uses combustible gas or oil, for instance, would not benefit from using water as a fire suppressing agent. For this reason, fire suppression systems are more common in industrial environments than traditional water sprinkler systems.
Why use an automatic fire suppression system?
Just like a traditional system, an automatic fire suppression system will consist of an element that detects heat and smoke and a suppression agent container. There will also often be a manual activation system that acts as a failsafe in the case that the automatic system isn’t triggered.
The main benefit of an automatic fire suppression system is that they eliminate the need for human activation or intervention. Not only does this reduce the risk to occupants’ safety, but it is also ideal for extinguishing fires in remote or less accessible areas of a building or estate.
Furthermore, automatic fire suppression systems are a particularly worthy investment for industries and companies containing flammable materials or high-value goods. This type of preventative measure could be looked upon favourably by insurance providers, who may reward business owners and landlords with lower premium rates for taking this type of precaution.
When is a fire suppression system required?
Fire suppression systems should be installed in buildings where a sprinkler system may not be the most effective method of fire protection. These can include rooms that contain a large amount of electrical equipment, irreplaceable assets or perishable items that could be susceptible to water damage.
Although there are no legal installation requirements for fire suppression systems, property owners, be they commercial or residential, are responsible for arranging experts to conduct fire risk assessments. This assessment, whether conducted internally or externally, may reveal the need for a fire suppression system. Further information can be found in our article on who exactly is responsible for fire safety legislation.
When identifying the best option for your specific needs, it’s advisable to know how both active and passive fire protection systems work in tandem to extinguish flames. This is vital for risk management, reducing the risk of structural damage as well as safeguarding a building’s occupants.
What are the different types of fire suppression?
Broadly speaking, there are five main types of fire suppression systems – all of which have unique properties and benefits based on the respective space in need of protection:
Gas systems
Gas suppression systems store fire-suppressing liquids, which are pressurised with nitrogen. These liquids contain a chemical agent called FM200, which is quickly released to immediately suppress flames. Since these systems don’t use any water, they’re particularly beneficial for rooms with large amounts of electrical equipment such as switchboards or server rooms. The gaseous agent is initially condensed in liquid form and stored in compact cylinders, making these systems easy to transport and store.
Wet chemical foam systems for kitchens
Wet chemical foam systems are specifically designed for suppressing fires in kitchens. These kitchen fire suppression systems work by quickly emitting a water-based chemical foam agent directly into a small, localised area. They are usually placed under the canopies of cookers and are activated by either a manual switch or a heat link (a link attached to a wire that breaks when exposed to heat, triggering the foam release valve).
Water mist systems
Water mist systems pose a viable fire suppression solution for spaces that cannot be exposed to large amounts of water. They work by producing droplets that are much smaller than conventional sprinkler systems. This creates a layer of steam that starves fires of oxygen, quickly reducing the temperature of the affected area. Since they use much less water than traditional sprinklers, they can to some extent be considered a more sustainable fire suppression method. We explore water mist systems in more detail in our article on emerging fire protection technologies.
Foam deluge systems
One of the biggest challenges in fire suppression is effectively safeguarding areas that contain flammable liquids. Foam deluge systems are the most effective means of controlling the spread of these environments. For this reason, they are commonly installed in refineries, aircraft hangers and industrial warehouses. A fire in these types of environments can accelerate tremendously quickly. Therefore, foam deluge systems are designed for the quick widespread application of suppressive materials.
Foam deluge systems use a mixture of foam and water to quickly control burning flammable liquids, cooling the surface area. The consistency of the foam causes a thick blanket to starve fires of oxygen and inhibit the release of flammable gases, effectively smothering the blaze. In this sense, they are not unlike conventional fire extinguishers.
Pneumatic heat detection tubes
Pneumatic heat detection tubes are designed in a way that makes them very similar to fire extinguishers. Therefore, they can be considered the most compact and mobile fire suppression system. These tubes have two primary components: a pipe and a valve. The pipe is installed around the potential source of fire; when it reaches a certain temperature it emits a suppressive agent directly onto the flames via the valve.
Pneumatic heat detection tubes tackle fires in their beginning stages, located in small areas with little room for manoeuvre. Therefore, they are ideal for tackling fires in cabinets and cupboards, as well as boats and vehicles. This does mean, however, that they are unsuitable for suppressing large fires and therefore are not recommended for rooms or areas with a high ceiling.
Which industries commonly use fire suppression systems?
While all industries use fire suppression systems to ensure safer work environments and to reduce property damage, certain sectors have specific requirements which make it even more of a priority to maintain a fully compliant fire suppression system.
- Industrial and manufacturing – This article has made multiple references to the presence of highly flammable materials in industrial settings, but it’s also worth mentioning that industrial and manufacturing plants also contain large amounts of raw materials. Therefore, one of the biggest risks of fire (excluding personal safety) is the potential disruption to supply chains, making a fire suppression system a critical investment.
- Warehousing and storage – Storage facilities will usually make the most of available space, providing that it complies with workplace health and safety regulations. A fire suppression system would effectively manage the risk of having large amounts of potentially flammable goods in close proximity, and provide the amount of coverage needed to protect a large commercial space.
- Data centres and server rooms – After power supply issues, fires are the second most common cause for data centre outages. They also have an average downtime of over 24 hours, and for the many businesses and organisations relying on data centers for their activities the impact can be catastrophic. Data centres and server rooms also contain a large amount of electronic equipment that is highly sensitive to changes in temperature. For both of these reasons, a fire suppression system is an imperative investment.
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Fire Rated Door
The prime purpose for fire doors is to save lives and stop the progress of fire in support of both escaping occupants and fire-fighting activities. They are an important part of a building’s passive fire protection system and an essential requirement for the vast majority of premises including residential, public buildings, offices and factories (specific building regulations must be checked).
The main functions of fire doors are:
- To allow egress from a space and to close once released
- Protect escape routes from the effects of fire (smoke, gases and flames)
- Potentially limit the amount of oxygen available and slow the growth of a fire
Fire Rated Curtain
Fire curtains help prevent the further spread of smoke and flames and reduce the risk of death due to inhalation. Fire-resistant curtains serve three main purposes in a building: to limit the initial development of a fire, to prevent the spread of fire, and to protect escape routes.
When activated by either a general fire alarm or a local detector, the fire curtain descends from its holding position within the head box to its operational position (floor level) and thus forms a physical barrier for fire compartmentalization. Using the Kent Gravity Fail Safe System, our fire curtains descend without the need for power and are fail to safe systems. These fire curtains have enabled large open building designs where otherwise permanent fire rated partitions would be required.
FEATURES
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Tested to BS EN 1634 Parts 1 and 3
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E180 and E240 minute fire rated models
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Compact ‘nearly invisible’ headbox with multiple fixing methods
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Flexible and durable fire rated fiberglass fabrics
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Lightweight assembly that greatly lessens structural load
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Slim compact guides
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Bottom bar, side guides and headbox can be powder coated to blend in to surroundings
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Up to 8.5m width x 7m drop on a single roller
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Virtually unlimited width without intermediate support using multiple rollers
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Kent Guaranteed Gravity Fail Safe (no power needed)
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Intelligent controls
COMPLIANCE
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BS EN 1634-1:2014 (fire resistance)
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BS EN 1634-3:2014 (smoke control test)
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Fabrics tested to BS 476 Pt 6 and Pt 7, EN 13501-1
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Fire Curtains tested to UL 10D
FIRE RESISTANCE (E)
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E180 / E240
RADIATION PERFORMANCE (W)
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Upto 85 minutes < 15kW/m2
Passive Fire Protection
Passive fire protection is a barrier or shield, stopping the spread of fire from one area to another.
Unlike active fire protection products such as sprinkler systems, fire alarms, fire extinguishers & fire hoses which become active in the event of fire, passive fire products remain non-active. An example of passive fire is a “Firewall” or “Fire-Cell”. This is a fire rated barrier or room, usually with a specific time allocated to fire containment. It is designed to perform that exact task: contain the fire from spreading.
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What is the Difference Between Passive Fire Protection and Active Fire Protection?
Fire protection within a building requires two types of protection: Active Fire Protection and Passive Fire Protection. Active Fire Protection relates to the detection and extinction of a fire whilst Passive Fire Protection relates to the containment of a fire.
Active Fire Protection
Active Fire Protection (AFA) is the process of protecting a building or structure from fire with methods that use the action of moving parts. These systems can be automatic, or operated manually, but they require some sort of action in order to work. A couple of examples of Active Fire Protection would be building sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems. These systems are an extremely important part of protecting property and the lives of people within.
Active Fire Protection is vitally important to protect life and to ensure a quick response via automatic or human intervention.
Passive Fire Protection
Passive Fire Protection (PFP) is a critical element to any building structure. It plays a preventive role and it represents all the construction methods that allow a structure to resist a fire during a given time (this is fixed by the regulations relating to specific building types).
Passive Fire Protection methods are intended to:
- Stop the progression of fumes
- Avoid the spread of flames
- Contain thermal effects in the disaster area
- Maintain the fire stability of structural elements
These methods are known as “passive” as they work without any human intervention or external energy input. They aim to allow the evacuation of people and the intervention of the emergency services, confining the fire as long as possible in a compartmentalised space.
To provide an answer to all of these objectives, we distinguish two types of fire protection solutions:
- Structural protection solutions – such as intumescent paints
- Firewall solutions for subdivision – such as foams, sealants and other fire stopping solutions.
Passive Fire Protection must be apprehended from the design of a building, both by the main contractor and the project management team involved (this is likely to include, Architect, Engineers, Structural Design Team etc.)
How does Passive Fire Protection work?
Passive Fire Protection methods are built into the structure to provide stability and into walls and floors to separate the building into areas of manageable risks – compartments. Such protection is either provided by the materials from which the building is constructed, or is added to the building to enhance its fire resistance.
Nullifire have being specialists in passive fire protection solutions for almost 50 years. Our expert team are on hand to help you in any current or upcoming project you may have.
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