The concept of an automatic fire sprinkler system was born in the mid-nineteenth century; to meet the need for improved ‘24/7’ fire protection in the rapidly-expanding industrial sector.
The continued development of such systems over the years has led to a wide variety of automatic fire suppression systems, including:
- fusible-bulb sprinkler systems
- deluge (‘open sprinkler’) systems
- high and low-pressure water mist installation
- gaseous systems
- foam-based systems
In the case of standard (fusible-bulb) sprinkler systems, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) view is that:
"Properly installed and maintained automatic fire sprinkler systems help save lives. Because fire sprinkler systems react so quickly, they can dramatically reduce the heat, flames and smoke produced in a fire".
Halcrow’s fire engineers have experience in the design, specification, testing and commissioning of all the system types listed above, in diverse applications such as buildings, tunnels, and on-board trains and ships.