Home Fire Sprinkler System Repair
Fire sprinkler systems are one of the best ways to prevent a house fire from spreading.
A properly working system can extinguish a fire before it becomes a full-blown disaster.
However, like all things mechanical, Home Fire Sprinkler System Repair is a necessity to ensure that your fire sprinkler systems are operational and safe.
Ensuring that these life saving safety systems are in good working order is not only required by law, but also critical to its ability to work efficiently and effectively.
We’ll walk you through the basics of home fire sprinkler system repair:
How fire sprinkler systems work
What causes them to break
Our repair process
Our tips for maintaining your system
Specialists in Home Fire Sprinkler System Repair
The Fire Suppression Company are fire suppression specialists and a leading provider of fire safety throughout the North West, UK.
We provide a range of services, including:
- New Fire Sprinkler Systems
- Fire Sprinkler System Installation
- Fire Sprinkler System Service & Maintenance
- New Water Mist Systems
- Water Mist Systems Installation
- Water Mist Systems Service & Maintenance
If your Fire Sprinkler System is currently experiencing issues and you require home fire sprinkler system repair, get in touch here and we can assist.
Our team of Home Fire Sprinkler System Repair specialists will quickly and efficiently fix any issues that you are having with your system; ensuring your home and family are as safe as possible in the event of a fire.
We can then arrange regular fire sprinkler system service and maintenance to help avoid this happening in the future.
How do home fire sprinkler systems work?
Home fire sprinkler systems are designed to automatically detect and extinguish fires in their early stages. Each sprinkler head is connected to a water supply, and when the system’s heat sensor detects a rise in temperature, the sprinkler heads will activate and spray water onto the fire.
The water pressure in a home fire sprinkler system is usually lower than that of a municipal water supply, so the sprinkler heads are designed to activate at lower temperatures than those that would cause a fire hose to burst. This means that the water sprayed by a home fire sprinkler system is less likely to cause damage to your home than the water from a fire hose.
What causes a home fire sprinkler system to break?
Home fire sprinkler systems are designed to require minimal maintenance, but over time without maintenance, parts can become worn or damaged.
By law, all fire sprinkler systems must be serviced every 12 months by a competent third party as part of the BS9251:2014 British Standard.
The Fire Suppression Company team are trained to repair and service your home fire sprinkler systems to industry standards.
Here are some of the most common problems that can occur with home fire sprinkler systems:
Clogged Fire Sprinkler Heads
Clogged fire sprinkler heads can be caused by:
- Dirt
- Dust
- Debris
- Obstructions
- And impediments
Dirt, dust and debris
Dirt and dust in your home is inevitable, but cleaning dirt and dust out of your home fire sprinkler heads isn’t as simple as everywhere else in your home.
The heat-sensitive element on your Home Fire Sprinkler System is extremely fragile and conventional cleaning methods should not be used to prevent any possible accidental damage.
A buildup of dirt or dust on your fire sprinkler system heads can cause:
- Distort water spray patterns
- The thermal element to become insulated, delaying sprinkler activation.
- Collection and spread bacteria and viruses
If the buildup is severe, you may need to completely replace your systems sprinkler heads. This is why regular service and maintenance by a Fire Sprinkler Professional is important.
Fire Sprinkler System Service and Maintenance can be cost effective when compared to unexpected repair costs from issues that may arise suddenly.
Obstructions
If you’re considering new fixtures or furniture in your home, it’s important you consider how this might affect your sprinkler system.
For example, if a new light fixture is placed too close to the discharge pattern, the system’s effectiveness will be diminished.
Having fire suppression experts on-hand who can provide advice and guidance with obstructions is essential for fire safety.
Here are some basic guidelines to consider if you think there may be an obstruction to your fire sprinkler system:
- Nothing should be placed closer than 18 in (457 mm) from the bottom of a sprinkler.
- Installations such as light fixtures should not be placed closer than 4 ft from a sidewall sprinkler head.
Impediments
There are several things that can impede the proper functioning, creating the need for a home fire sprinkler system repair:
- Paint on sprinkler heads: This can result in delayed activation or no activation at all. When painting around your sprinkler heads, take extra care not to get paint on the head itself.
- Hanging decorations or materials on sprinkler heads: This can impact the discharge pattern
Broken pipes
A broken fire sprinkler system pipe can spell disaster for a home.
Not only does it put the home and its occupants at risk, but it can also lead to reduced reliability of your home fire sprinkler system and, in some cases, extensive water damage.
Unfortunately, the presence of water, oxygen, and metal in fire sprinkler systems makes it impossible to avoid altogether.
If you are experiencing problems with your fire sprinkler system pipes, it is important to get them looked at as soon as possible.
The common causes of broken fire sprinkler pipes include:
- Corrosion
- Freezing
- Accidental damage
Fire Sprinkler System Backflow
Backflow is a problem that can occur when there are changes to the water pressure in the pipelines.
There are two main causes of backflow:
- Back Siphonage
- Back Pressure
The main concern with backflow is; the water that sits in your fire sprinkler system pipes waiting to be released in a fire emergency can be contaminated by chemical reactions or harmful bacteria. These chemical reactions or harmful bacteria are from the water and metal in your pipes or.
When backflow occurs, there is a risk that it may flow back into the water mains; causing contamination.
Luckily, your home fire sprinkler system should be equipped with a backflow preventer. However, like most equipment, backflow preventers need to be maintained to work efficiently.
Fire Sprinkler System Corrosion
Corrosion can cause serious damage to a home fire sprinkler system and may even lead to a system failure.
If you have a fire sprinkler system, it is important to be aware of the signs of corrosion and to know how to properly maintain your system to prevent corrosion from causing problems.
Corrosion can occur in any type of fire sprinkler system. It can also occur in the fittings and valves of a fire sprinkler system.
If corrosion is left untreated, it can cause serious damage to a fire sprinkler system. In some cases, corrosion can cause a fire sprinkler system to fail completely.
There are 2 main forms of corrosion:
Oxidation
Oxidation corrosion is a type of corrosion that is caused by the reaction of oxygen with the metal surface, often resulting in rust. This type of corrosion can occur in any type of metal, but it is most common in copper and brass.
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is a type of corrosion that is caused by bacteria. Bacteria can cause corrosion by releasing acids, enzymes, or toxins. These substances can attack the metal and cause it to corrode.
MIC is a particularly common problem in fire sprinkler systems. The moisture and warmth in a fire sprinkler system provides the perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
There are several signs that indicate that corrosion may be present in a fire sprinkler system, these include:
- Pitting: small holes or depressions in the metal surface
- Flaking: the loss of small bits of metal from the surface
- Rusting: the formation of red or orange crystals on the metal surface
- Leaks
If you notice any of these signs, it is important to have your fire sprinkler system inspected by a professional.
The Fire Suppression Company Home Fire Sprinkler System Repair Process
At The Fire Suppression Company we recommend regular maintenance that will:
- Ensure your system is working as efficiently as possible
- Minimise the risk of costly repairs
- Ensure you and your family are safe
We understand that a malfunctioning fire sprinkler system can be a major inconvenience concern, so we offer a fast and efficient service to get your home back up to standard, quickly.
During our Home Fire Sprinkler System Repair, we will:
- Check all sprinkler heads and cover plates are clean, undamaged, fitted correctly, leak free and unobstructed.
- Ensure nothing has changed that might impact sprinkler coverage or cause blindspots.
- The system has no signs of corrosion.
- The system has no leaks.
- Perform system pressure and flow tests to enure the water supply is working as expected.
- Inspect the tank and pump.
- Test and inspect the alarm system.
- Inspect system valve sets ensuring they are secure, open and labelled.
- Repair any components or sections of the system that require repair.
- Offer any advisories and a reglar maintenance plan to avoid issues in the future.
How we maintain your fire sprinkler system
There are a few things that we can do to help keep your fire sprinkler system in good working condition.
Here’s our general guide of do’s and dont’s:
The do’s:
- Always keep your system documents
- Follow your systems general service and maintenance recommendations
- Protect your sprinkler and replace broken ones
- Protect your pipes from freezing during winter
- Complete regular inspections to ensure there are no leaks or damage
The dont’s:
- Don’t obstruct sprinkler heads with furniture, remodelling work, exercise equipment, or anything else that might block the water flow pattern.
- Don’t paint over sprinkler heads or any cover plates that hide them. Cover plates may gum up the deflector that fans the water out from a room if they are painted over. Painting heads also: Covers up and prevents water flow, disrupts heat detection and reduces deflector effectiveness.
- Don’t hang anything from sprinkler heads.
- Don’t break sprinkler heads. Consider installing a head guard around exposed sprinkler heads to avoid accidental bumps that may cause damage.
- Don’t turn off your fire sprinkler system. Always ensure the water shut-off valve remains in the open position.
Get in touch today if you require Home Fire Sprinkler System Repair:
Our team are ready and waiting to assist with your Home Fire Sprinkler System Repair requirements.
We operate nation wide and can help with any fire suppression system issue, no matter how small or large.
Call us now on 01942 364 479 or provide us with the requirement information on our contact form here.
One of our maintenance managers will be in touch to give you a breakdown on the work required and to organise an initial inspection.
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