The CFC team prioritizes providing accurate, transparent, and accessible fire safety and security information to our clients, particularly when it comes to fire safety and sprinkler systems. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the standard for fire sprinkler system design and installation, and this standard dictates our entire operation. The most central component of fire sprinkler systems to understand is that the fire sprinklers activate when exposed to a specific temperature for a specific length of time. . All of the NFPA requirements for fire sprinkler systems are rooted in ensuring that each sprinkler can accurately assess the temperature and gas layers of the interior space. If a sprinkler is located in an area that is not exposed to accurate air temperature and composition, it cannot go off in an emergency and puts your business and property at a higher risk of fires. New fire codes allow a single sprinkler head to protect up to 200 square feet, depending on the design of the fire sprinkler, flammability of the building and the materials within it. The NFPA delineates spacing requirements based on the material hazards, plumbing, and piping systems of the specific construction. Sprinkler heads must be a maximum of 12-15 feet apart, depending on the hazard rating of the space (it ranges from Light Hazard to Extra Hazard 1&2), and at least half that distance from the nearest walls (typically 7.5 feet away). Current fire safety codes require sprinkler heads always to be a minimum of 6 feet apart from one another to avoid cold soldering. The process of cold soldering occurs when one sprinkler sprays water on another and cools it down so much so that the second sprinkler’s heat sensor is thrown off and delayed or deactivated. These spacing requirements, as well as how high the sprinkler is to the ceiling and whether or not there are architectural obstructions, dictate the exact location of each sprinkler head. Many different types of sprinkler heads can be adapted to alleviate certain building constraints, namely the three broad categories of fire sprinklers: pendant, upright, and sidewall heads. Each sprinkler design is suitable for different environments and applications. There are also extended coverage fire sprinkler heads that can combat building challenges and exceptions, including small rooms, curved surfaces, and angled walls.
Individualized Fire Sprinkler Solutions
Every building and business demands a unique fire sprinkler solution. As with all of our life safety services, the CFC team tailors our design and implementation of fire sprinklers to your specific property needs and timeframe. Whether you need a fire sprinkler system update or a completely new buildout, our estimating and design professionals are always abreast of the latest updates to the NFPA regulations and ready to create a solution. They take the time to fully understand a project and its parameters as they create and implement a fire sprinkler solution that works within the constraints of any architecture. Through unparalleled expertise and attention, we care for and protect your business and livelihood as if it were our own. We provide vital fire safety and security services to our beloved Southwest and Central Florida communities. We look forward to helping you improve the fire sprinkler safety of your business.