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By: BlazeMaster EMEA on 27-Aug-2019 04:00:00
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Fire Protection Systems for Historic Buildings

We read headlines and view news reports all too frequently about fire destroying or seriously damaging historic buildings. A report from last October recalls the loss of what was known as England’s oldest hotel, Exeter’s Royal Clarence, which was completely destroyed in 2016. Many of us also recall the horrible day nearly 30 years ago when Windsor Castle burned and was saved by heroic fire fighting efforts.  Many more cultural and national heritage buildings have indeed been lost or damaged, a partial list of which may be found here.

While stewards of historic structures may be torn between preserving a building’s historic integrity and installing fire sprinkler systems, these losses here in the UK and the April fire that nearly destroyed Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral have served as wake-up calls. There are hundreds of unprotected heritage buildings across the UK that are certainly more susceptible to the danger of fire simply due to the building materials used centuries prior, as well as the age of those materials.

This does not have to be the case. Fire is a real and present danger, and our heritage buildings may be protected from that danger by the retrofit of a fire protection system.

 

No Dangers Caused by a Sprinkler System

A common argument against the installation of sprinkler systems in historic buildings is the potential of water damage of a building’s ceiling, walls, or valuable antiques and other contents.

A fire protection system that has been properly designed and installed will present no issues in terms of leaks. High-rise structures, single-family homes and offices across the country that have been outfitted with such systems are a testament to that. In fact, a fire protection system based on CPVC pipe and fittings offer building owners and stewards an added safety benefit in that its installation requires no torches for soldering. There is no danger of an installation starting a fire from a misguided spark from a torch, which would certainly negate the advantage of installing the system. Pipes and fittings joining is accomplished quickly and efficiently using a safe solvent cement.

Sprinklers are not activated accidentally. While a smoke alarm may be triggered by smoke, as an early indicator of the potential of fire, sprinklers are activated only by temperatures that are reached by an active fire. If a sprinkler goes off, it is doing its job. That is not to say that the fire brigade may never be required, but a sprinkler system is literally the first defence in stopping the fire from spreading. Stories of these systems quenching a fire before it can spread are fact, not fiction, in private homes, tower blocks and, yes, historic buildings.

One more thing to keep in mind is the fact that sprinklers are activated locally. In other words, in a building equipped with perhaps hundreds of sprinklers, only the sprinkler near the source of the fire will go off, working to extinguish the blaze while minimizing potential water damage to the building and its precious artifacts.

 

The Argument for Modernization

The argument against modernization is often heard. The desire to keep castles, palaces, churches and other historic structures historically accurate is certainly a strong one, but pales when one thinks of the potential loss of those buildings and their contents.

Thinking along the line of “keeping it pristine” also flies in the face of the fact that most, if not all, of these buildings have been equipped with electricity and, hopefully, modern plumbing at some point in the not-so-distant past.

Yes, there will be some disruption to the structure in terms of running sprinkler pipe and fitting lines and installing sprinklers themselves in the walls and/or ceilings. We are, however, a nation of skilled craftspeople with the know-how and will to maintain and preserve a building’s architectural integrity with minimal intrusion. Add to that the fact that the fire protection industry has developed low-profile, concealed head sprinklers that are no more noticeable than recessed lighting. Some systems may include extended coverage, meaning fewer sprinklers per room are required.

Here is a fine article about a CPVC fire protection system that was installed in Newhailes House in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. The National Trust for Scotland determined that this building’s historical significance and contents could never be replaced if a fire occurred. Several methods of fire suppression, including dry powder, foam, inert gas and water mist, were also considered. The sprinkler system was selected based on its proven record in historic buildings and offered choices in terms of aesthetics and function.

Fire protection, plus the peace of mind it brings by helping to preserve historic buildings for generations to come, are strong reasons to consider a sprinkler system retrofit. We can help you initiate such a project. 

To learn more about the advantages of BlazeMaster® CPVC, download our Guide to CPVC Fire Sprinklers.

Guide to CPVC Fire Sprinklers