Facing the Fire Safety Facts with BlazeMaster
More than ever, the UK is looking to Fire Engineers to advise on what is being done to address the heightened awareness of fire safety in recent years. Fortunately, BlazeMaster CPVC fire protection system has been developing modern fire safety solutions for more than just a few years. Here are the facts.
Fact: Fires are Happening in the UK
Between 2016 and 2017, 74,874 fires were reported in England, just over 30,000 of which were in dwellings. 325 fatalities were from fire, 296 of which were in dwellings. Almost all fire-related deaths in the UK during this time period took place at home. There is clearly much to be done to improve fire safety in dwellings.
Fire sprinklers are answering this challenge, and the change is being felt all over the country.
Fact: Fire sprinklers are on the rise
A building installed efficiently with fire sprinklers is statistically proven to help prevent the widespread suffering caused by domestic fires in recent years. A European study conducted over 10 years saw a 98% success rate in the extinguishing of fire from sprinkler heads alone. Of these fires, 60% of them were extinguished from the activation of just four sprinkler heads.
It's a fact that this is being taken seriously around the UK. Wales was the first nation in the world to mandate fire sprinkler installation as part of every new build in 2016. As of November 2020, installation of fire sprinkler systems and consistent wayfinding signage in all new high-rise blocks of flats over 11 metres tall has become law across the UK. Scotland is due to follow Wales’ example in 2021.
Fact: BlazeMaster CPVC is Ready for the Challenge
BlazeMaster CPVC is listed for use in the UK against the WRAS potable water certification and the LCPB. BlazeMaster CPVC pipes and fittings are approved for use in Light Hazard and Ordinary Hazard occupancies, and hold the European Fire Classification of Bs1d0, the highest rating a plastic material can achieve. This is what makes BlazeMaster CPVC the most specified non-metallic material for fire sprinklers anywhere in the world.
Fact: CPVC will not melt or cause fire to spread
CPVC is specified for this purpose because of its superior resistance to high pressure and temperatures. During a controlled test in which water was distributed through a CPVC piping system for 10 minutes at 12 bar pressure, the pipe material was exposed to flames, reaching temperatures of 760-870°C.
The test demonstrated how charring forms on the outside of the CPVC pipe, while the interior remains unchanged. Charring forms a charred thermal barrier, restricting the flow of heat into the pipe wall, while the cool water passing through the pipe helps reduce the temperature from the inside out. And because CVPC has a Limiting Oxygen Index which is three times that of Earth’s atmosphere, it needs three times more oxygen than we have in the Earth's atmosphere to sustain a flame.
Fact: CPVC is Going to Last
A sprinkler head distributes up to 90% less water than a firefighter’s hose, causing far less damage to the structure of the building. The chemical compound of CPVC improves water flow to the sprinkler head, without corroding over the years like steel.
BlazeMaster specialises in long-lasting fire safety solutions that aim to keep buildings safe and intact for generations. Thanks to CPVC, that’s a fact.
Watch our 50 minute RIBA Accredited video seminar to find out more about how BlazeMaster CPVC is responding to the need for fire safety in the UK.