New Building Codes Require Careful Attention to Fire Sprinkler and Early Detection Systems

Whether were realize it or not, fire sprinkler system design is important to all of us. From the time that we spend at church and school to the hours that we spend at work or volunteering, any time we are in an indoor space we rely on the thought that goes behind fire sprinkler system design and installation to keep us safe. Fro this reason, there are many state and federal regulations that are in place to be certain that fire sprinkler design companies are following all of the proven techniques that can keep people, property, and possessions as safe as possible.

Different kinds of types of fire suppression systems are designed for different kinds of spaces, so it is important that new building construction plans include fire sprinkler system designer instructions from the very beginning. From planning for water sources to electrical currents to knowing that there will be enough ceiling clearance for all of the necessary materials, in fact, the placement of these safety equipment systems are some of the first part of any building plan.

The Latest Fire Sprinkler System Design Software Packages Provide Consistency and Efficiency

One of the latest, and in some ways most important, applications of fire sprinkler systems is in data storage centers. It has been obvious for years how important it is to protect people from fire in high rise buildings, for instance, but a newer concern is the protection of the digital data that is stored in structures around the country. As the world’s becomes more and more dependent on the use of technology, the risk of losing the data that we need is more and more of a concern. As a result, there are specific guidelines for the kind of fire sprinkler systems that have to be in place in buildings that store data.

Consider some of these other facts about the history of the fire sprinkler industry, as well as the current application of these important systems:

  • Although they have gone through many changes and advancements, automatic fire sprinklers have been in use in the U.S. since 1874.
  • Sprinklers reduce the amount of water used to fight a fire by as much as 90% by their specific placements and early detection systems.
  • Causes of fires vary, but 29.9% of non-residential fires were attributed to cooking in the year 2016.
  • Another 11% were reported as being unintentional or due to carelessness in that same year.
  • A structure fire occurred every 63 seconds in the year 2017, while a home fire occurred every 88 seconds, and an outside property fire occurred every 51 seconds. This data is a sad, but true, example, of how important it is to have the right fire safety measures in place in any building.
  • There were 499,000 structure fires in the U.S. in 2017, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This is a number that is up 4.9% from the 475,500 fires that were reported in the year 2016.
  • Fires in structures not related to wildfires caused $10.7 billion in property damage in the year 2017. This, too, is a number that has increased 37% from the 2016 loss of $7.8 billion.

Any time a fire happens there is a risk of loss of life, property, and possessions. Fortunately, with the latest advancements in both early warning systems and fire sprinkler prevention there are ways to eliminate some of this damage. For these reasons, the placement and design of these systems is extremely important. Even though you may not realize it when you go into your church next Sunday morning or into your place of work on Monday, there have been hours of planning and implementation that go into the installation of fire detection, warning, and safety equipment.

As studies from fires continue to gather data and this information is used in computer programs that provide details about how systems should be installed, there are an increasing number of advantages that newer buildings have. There are also, of course, ways that older buildings are brought up to code so that they are also safe places for students, congregation members, workers, health care providers, and every other person who enters a building.

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