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ESFR
Sprinkler System
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Around 1990 EARLY
SUPPRESSION FAST RESPONSE (ESFR) sprinkler systems began being installed
in warehouses and distribution centers. An ESFR sprinkler system is
located in the ceiling structure yet for many categories of product offers
fire protection better than in-rack systems.
With ESFR
sprinkler heads further away from the fire than the sprinkler heads in an
in-rack system, how is that possible? The answer lies in the three ways
ESFR systems differ from conventional systems:
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A. SPEED
ESFR sprinkler
heads sense a fire and begin spraying water in half the time of
conventional heads. The sooner the system starts to fight the fire, the
smaller the fire will be, so it is more likely that the ESFR system will
be capable of extinguishing the fire promptly.
B. VOLUME
Conventional heads
discharge water at a rate of about 90 to 100 Litres per minute (lpm), and
high output conventional heads (used with hazardous and explosive
materials) output approximately 60 gpm. ESFR heads discharge water 680lpm per minute.
C. DROPLET SIZE
ESFR heads emit
larger droplets of water with greater momentum than conventional heads.
When extra water is forced through conventional heads, it tends to come
out as a mist and a greater percentage evaporates than when conventional
heads flow at a normal rate. ESFR heads not only output larger amounts of
water, but a greater share of the water reaches the fire, hastening the
extinguishing process. Conventional systems are generally not designed to
extinguish a fire, but rather to keep it from spreading by moistening the
area around the fire.
These three
factors build upon each other to increase ESFR's efficiency. By detecting
the fire sooner, outputting more water, and increasing the likelihood of
the water reaching the fire because of the droplet size, ESFR systems are
able to compensate for the sprinkler heads being further from the fire.
WHO
CAN USE ESFR?
For many (but not
all) categories of product, ESFR technology can be used in warehouses with
storage that does not exceed 10.7m (35 feet) in overall height, and with a ceiling
height that averages 12.2m (40 feet) or less. You will need to confirm with your
insurance carrier and local authorities (i.e. fire and building
inspectors) that ESFR is appropriate for the product being stored in your
facility.
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