Timely retrofit of a fire sprinkler system
Published: 01 July, 2007
When a fire broke out in a 1920s apartment building on the southern outskirts of Bergen, Norway, in 2006 it could have spelled the end for the inhabitants. A fire was initiated by a burning cigarette dropping from an ashtray which ignited a sofa.
Fortunately, all 40 residents in the building were saved from potential injury and death by a BlazeMaster CPVC fire sprinkler system which had been retrofitted a couple of months before the fire as part of a major modernisation project.
The BlazeMaster piping system, with a total of 175 sprinkler heads, was installed by Tore Eide AS, one of the leading sprinkler engineering companies in Norway.
A spokesman told F&R: “Tore Eide wanted to provide residents with a low-cost system, which would give maximum fire protection with minimum disruption during installation. A BlazeMaster fire sprinkler system was the ideal solution because of its proven fire safety performance, fast installation and excellent value for money.
“Unlike steel fire sprinkler systems, BlazeMaster systems are easy to install and cause only limited disruption to residents during a retrofit. Even when retrofitting an old property such as this, most of the CPVC sprinkler pipes can be installed discreetly either above the ceiling or in the walls. Modular decorative covers are used where necessary to conceal any exposed pipework,” he comments.
Real benefits from the sprinklers
The installation of the BlazeMaster system facilitated the granting of planning permission for the conversion of the unused attic space into three small apartments.
It also rendered unnecessary a secondary fire escape route, which increased the total surface area of some of the apartments and their subsequent value.
A spokesman commented: “Easy access to high-quality timber has given Norway a tradition of building in wood. Today, the proportion of wooden frame structures is on the increase and it is therefore not surprising that fire safety is a top priority. It is estimated that a total of 450,000 sprinkler heads are installed in Norway each year, covering all construction applications and hazard classes.”
Retrofitting any type of building with a fire sprinkler system presents a challenge for the engineering company as it may not be clear what lies behind the structural walls.
“In old, wooden constructions such as this apartment building, BlazeMaster CPVC pipe was the material of choice for Tore Eide because of its inherent design flexibility,” commented the spokesman. “Unlike installations using metal pipe, design modifications are easily made when required. The lightweight CPVC pipe is cut on site to the exact measurements leaving behind no messy oil residues or debris. It is then simply joined in place using the one-step solvent cement joining system.
“The fitters are able to install the BlazeMaster pipe and fittings into the tightest of spots where wrenches that are necessary for making metal pipe adjustments simply would not fit,” he concludes.
Some conclusions
Approved as a commercial system for more than 20 years, BlazeMaster fire sprinkler systems can contain and even extinguish a fire in less time than it may take for the fire brigade to attend the incident, says the manufacturer.
“How a fire is tackled in the first four minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Most fatalities are caused by toxic fumes that are generated by a fire long before it has the chance to engulf the structure itself,” said a spokesman.
“BlazeMaster pipe and fittings are manufactured from BlazeMaster CPVC, a unique high performance material, which is recognized for its inherently low fire propagation and low smoke development properties.
He continued: “BlazeMaster CPVC systems are fast becoming the accepted norm in the engineering design community. Listed and approved for more light-hazard NFPA 13 construction applications than any other non-metallic system, these advanced products are designed to save lives and significantly reduce property damage.”
In the case of this apartment building, the timely retrofit proved both the life-saving function of the BlazeMaster fire sprinkler system as well as its role of protecting property. Only the sprinkler head that was closest to the seat of the fire needed to be activated, which restricted the fire damage to the sofa and kept water damage to a minimum.
