The Future of Fire Sprinkler Design: Innovations and Advancements

A fire sprinkler release water to extinguish the fire in commercial buildings, schools, and hospitals, thus saving lives and property. Traditionally, it was installed in factories and buildings but now in homes, thanks to its simplified installation. Past has seen dramatic changes in fire sprinkler technology, such as the use of microprocessors, and technology is still evolving. Keep reading the below article to understand the history, types of fire sprinklers, and new advancements in the fire sprinkler system.

History

The history of fire sprinklers starts with the great artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Once, the Duke of Milan asked him to invent something to help his kitchen staff for a dinner party. So, Leonardo invents a conveyor belt to bring food to the chiefs, a large oven, and a fire sprinkler system for safety from fire. However, due to the problem of the speed of the conveyor belt and the burning of food in the new oven, the fire sprinkler released water, ruining all the food. 

Another record of a fire sprinkler system comes from the united kingdom in 1812 at Theatre Royal. It contained a reservoir to hold water, pipes installed, and they put small holes in the pipes to sprinkle water. However, in 1872, an automated sprinkler system was patented by Philip W. Pratt. Subsequently, Henry S. Parmelee expanded the system and used it in his Paino factory in 1874.

Frederick Grinnell further improved the design of fire sprinklers starting in 1881 and continued it for 60 years. After 1950, there were not many advancements in the fire sprinkler system; However, in the last 10-15 years, fire sprinkler engineers have come up with several beneficial designs- we will discuss them in the next section, but before, let us first discuss the types of fire sprinklers.

Types

• Wet pipe fire sprinkler system

Wet pipe is the most common fire sprinkler system in which sprinkler pipes are filled with water. In this system, when the element in the sprinkler reaches a specific temperature, the fusible link or glass bulb breaks, enabling the water to flow freely. The wet pipe system is reliable as long as the temperature does not drop below 40F or 40C. So, if you can’t guarantee the temperature, consider picking a different system.

• Dry pipe fire sprinkler system

The main difference between wet and dry pipes is that the dry pipe is not constantly filled with water. Instead, it is kept behind a dry pipe valve, so when the temperature rises and the glass bulb breaks, the water does not fall immediately, but the air is released, causing the valve to open and sprinkle water. These are good to install in places where the temperature can go below 40F, but one has to take care of the temperature of that part of the building where water comes in the dry pipe.

• Pre-action fire sprinkler system

Pre-action fire sprinkler system uses a two-step process; First, a smoke detector detects the fire and sends a signal to open the pre-action valve to fill the water in the system. Second, a fire sprinkler detects the increased temperature to pour water into specific areas. Because this system uses a two-way system, it does not cause accidental system activations. Therefore, they are used in libraries, server rooms, etc.

Innovation and advancements in the fire sprinkler system

Fire sprinkler design and engineering have come a long way since the 1950s; new and effective technologies are making fighting fire much easier than before. Some new pieces of advancements in the fire sprinkler system are below.

1. Water mist sprinkler system

Water mist sprinkler systems use a mist of tiny droplets of water to put out the fire. The thin droplets make a large area when converted to water and are much better at absorbing heat and putting out fires. They also use less water than conventional water sprinkler systems and protect the property from water damage. They are effective for commercial buildings, residential buildings, homes, industries, and other environments.

2. Video image smoke detection

Instead of using the old ways to detect the temperature, it uses the images of smoke taken by a camera and analyzed by a computer. When the computer detects smoke or fire, it triggers the system, and during this process, the computer keeps on analyzing the images to assess the fire. These systems are ideal for large warehouses or facilities.

3. Special sprinkler heads

All sprinkler heads are not suitable for all applications. Due to this, many specialty sprinkler heads are expected to come to the market that is designed for specific circumstances. For example, some sprinkler heads are designed for low water flow, some to cover large areas, some for apartments or single-family homes, and many more.

Conclusion

At last, the integration of new technologies and utilization of high-end sensors are revolutionizing fire sprinkler systems. Innovations and advancements are increasing the efficiency of fire sprinklers and our overall safety. But consider several factors while implementing these technologically advanced and efficient fire sprinklers, such as cost.