Raising the Standard: Fire Safety in Modern Architecture

Modern standards demand that Architects provide convenience, aesthetic beauty and superior functionality in every build. However, safety must also be considered a top priority, especially when it comes to dwellings and facilities for vulnerable people. 

Let’s explore the ways BlazeMaster CPVC fire sprinkler systems are making a major contribution to modern fire safety in the UK.

Sprinklers: The Next Big Thing?

Although we have seen them in the movies for generations, fire sprinklers themselves are in fact a modern approach to fire safety in the UK, but the rise in popularity is clear. From the 1st January 2016, Wales was the first country in the world to protect new builds with fire sprinklers by law, nationwide. As of April 2020, the mandatory installation of fire sprinkler systems and consistent way-finding signage now applies to all new high-rise blocks of flats over 11 metres tall.

The switch to fire sprinklers is now considered a step towards the future, and it’s not difficult to see why. In a European study conducted by the FM and LPC, over a period of 10 years, 98% of fires controlled by sprinklers alone, were successfully extinguished. 

BlazeMaster CPVC fire protection systems are answering the call for fire sprinklers in the UK; but to explore its true modern advantages, we need to look closer.

Plastic vs Steel

Fire sprinkler technology may be in demand, but it’s not the way it used to be. BlazeMaster fire sprinklers are the most specified non-metallic solutions in the world. Nowadays, Architects are choosing plastic over metal.

One of the biggest issues affecting the modern construction industry is the environmental impact of building materials. BlazeMaster CPVC consistently outperforms steel in many environmental measures, including toxicity, climate change and renewable energy use. BlazeMaster CPVC fire sprinkler systems hold the European Fire Classification of Bs1d0, the highest rating a plastic material can achieve. But here’s why we chose BlazeMaster CPVC. 

BlazeMaster CPVC: The Modern Advantage

The modern Architect has one eye on the future at all times. BlazeMaster fire sprinkler systems specialise in CPVC to give Architects the modern advantage.

CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) requires three times more oxygen than is available in the Earth’s atmosphere to burn; in other words, it simply doesn’t sustain a flame. Instead, it forms a charred thermal barrier when exposed to flames, restricting the flow of heat through the pipe’s wall.

While this layer of strength and protection is happening on the outside, the pipe smoothness is what gives it the advantage on the inside. It’s immunity to corrosion keeps water flow healthy for decades, enabling architects to design more flexible systems from slimmer pipe and fittings.

It’s Not Just for Modern Buildings

The versatility of BlazeMaster CPVC fire sprinkler systems means Architects can protect buildings from fire damage, plus water damage from hoses. The scientific advantage of BlazeMaster CPVC allows designs to be streamlined for convenience, having no hindrance on the aesthetic of the design. 

However, this doesn’t just apply to new builds. Fire damaged buildings can be retrofitted, without the need to rebuild. The modern architectural advantage of BlazeMaster CPVC isn’t just for new buildings; it’s for everyone.

Watch our 50 minute RIBA Accredited video seminar to find out more about how BlazeMaster CPVC gives architects the modern advantage.