Sprinklers vs Water Mist in Modular Construction

Off site modular construction has been on the rise in recent years, without any sign of slowing down. It has been recognised at the highest level for its smart solutions to old problems; budget struggles, delayed schedules and above all, lack of focus on building standards. 

Modular ties all of these issues together into one solution. Focused, off site, collaborative construction that facilitates better sharing of data and quality assurance. As the demand for housing keeps increasing and the government’s ambition to keep building remains strong, modular has gone from innovation to national necessity.

Fire suppression, meanwhile, has grown with it. As tragic events heightened awareness of fire suppression systems on the market, it has made its way into legislation, and rightly so. 

However, for fire suppression to work alongside the new normal of modular, it must first prove it can live up to the standards as defined in this new normal of industry. 

Sprinklers vs Water Mist

The two principal fire suppression systems on the market specialise in sprinkler and water mist based water distribution. 

Fire Sprinklers - Sprinkler heads facilitate pressurized distribution of water droplets in areas where sprinkler sensor bulbs detect specific temperatures; in BlazeMaster® CPVC’s case, 68°C or above.

A typical sprinkler will use more water than a water mist system. However it allows large areas to be protected with very few sprinkler heads. 

In accordance with the latest legislation on building safety, all new residences above 11 meters tall must be fitted with fire sprinklers.

Water Mist - Water mist heads disperse less water during activation than fire sprinklers, and therefore require less water storage. Droplet size is smaller, therefore more accumulated droplets are dispersed into the atmosphere. However, mist is less effective over large areas.

Water mist droplets attach to smoke particles in the air and therefore help to reduce the spread of smoke throughout the building; however, because the droplets are so light in nature, external factors such as wind, ventilation and air conditioning can limit its effectiveness.

Setting Standards

Modular is being recognised as a key opportunity to achieve and maintain higher standards of construction. 

So what do sprinklers versus water mist look like, when it comes to compliance?

Fire Sprinklers - BlazeMaster CPVC pipes and fittings are WRAS listed for potable water applications in the UK. They are LCPB UK approved, FM global approved and Red Book listed. Following successful testing, BlazeMaster CPVC achieved UL listing in accordance with fire test UL1821.

BlazeMaster CPVC pipes, parts and fittings each have their own set of standards and compliance, and all installers require third party accreditation. 

Water Mist - Water Mist systems, in many cases, do not have the same certifications for residential applications. While sprinkler systems can be fully designed and installed in accordance with pre existing standards (BS EN 12845 for example), water mist systems require accurate testing on a project by project basis. 

Currently, installers do not require third party accreditation, nor do many water mist systems themselves. 

Better Standards Start Now

As building regulations are expected to become more stringent and the spotlight on modular construction intensifies, specifying a fire protection system that can live up to the demands of  the new normal has never been more crucial.

For more information about BlazeMaster Fire Protection Systems and to discuss implementing your modular project with BlazeMaster CPVC, visit our website and subscribe to our blog.

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