Apartment, Condo and Multifamily Residential Fire Protection

A residential sprinkler system is designed to control a fire at an early stage, helping protect occupants and limit fire spread within the home. Residential and domestic fire sprinklers can be incorporated into new-build houses and other residential developments or installed as part of refurbishment and retrofit work.

BlazeMaster® CPVC pipe and fittings are approved for use in residential occupancies within the applicable product listings and standards. Lightweight and inherently resistant to corrosion, BlazeMaster CPVC pipework can be installed in concealed or exposed locations and joined using solvent cement rather than welding or pipe threading.

Residential and Domestic Fire Sprinkler Applications

The design of a residential sprinkler system depends on the type of property, its occupancy, layout, water supply and the fire safety requirements applying to the project.
BlazeMaster CPVC is approved for relevant residential applications including:

One and two-family houses
Townhouses
Flats and apartments
High-rise residential buildings
Student accommodation
Residential hotels and other approved residential occupancies

The applicable design standard and current BlazeMaster CPVC product listing should always be checked for the particular building and installation conditions.

Residential Sprinkler Standards and Regulations

In the UK, BS 9251:2021 provides a code of practice for fire sprinkler systems in domestic and residential premises. It covers areas including system design, water supplies, components, installation, commissioning, maintenance and testing.

BlazeMaster CPVC is approved for applications defined under standards and approval frameworks including BS 9251, BS EN 12845 and LPS 1260. The relevant system standard should be considered alongside local building regulations and the product listing.

Requirements for domestic fire sprinklers are not identical across every jurisdiction or building type. In Wales, automatic fire suppression systems have been required in new and converted residential properties since 2016. Requirements elsewhere can depend on factors such as the type and height of the building and its overall fire strategy. Project teams should establish the current local requirements at the design stage.

In new construction, early coordination can allow pipework to be incorporated into ceiling, floor and wall voids as the building is constructed. BlazeMaster CPVC can be cut and fabricated on site, allowing installers to accommodate changes in layout and coordinate around other services.

For existing properties, access and the amount of work required can have a significant effect on the installation programme. CPVC pipe is lightweight and does not require welding or powered pipe-threading equipment for jointing. Access, drilling, supports, testing and any necessary reinstatement still need to be allowed for as part of the work.

Specifying BlazeMaster® CPVC for Residential Sprinkler Systems

Residential sprinkler specification should establish the applicable design standard, building classification, water supply, sprinkler layout and approved pipework installation conditions.

The Orange Book provides guidance for designers and specifiers working with CPVC fire protection systems, including information on BS 9251:2021, BS EN 12845 hazard classifications, LPCB guidance and BlazeMaster CPVC pipe and fittings.

Why Use CPVC Pipework in Residential Sprinkler Systems?

The practical characteristics of CPVC can be useful where fire sprinkler pipework needs to be coordinated within residential interiors.

BlazeMaster CPVC pipework is lightweight, making it easier to transport and handle on site. Its solvent-cement joining process removes the need for welding during pipe jointing, while its resistance to pitting and corrosion can reduce concerns associated with internal corrosion of metallic pipework.

Pipework can be installed in concealed or exposed locations where permitted by the applicable listing and system design, giving designers and installers options for integrating a residential sprinkler system into the property.

New-Build and Retrofit Residential Properties

Domestic fire sprinklers can be considered during the initial design of a house or incorporated into an existing property.

For new-build homes, sprinkler design can be coordinated with the structure and other services before finishes are installed. On retrofit projects, surveys should establish suitable pipe routes, access requirements, the existing water supply and how affected ceilings or finishes will be reinstated.

Where a building remains occupied during the work, the lightweight pipe and solvent-cement joining method used with BlazeMaster CPVC can help limit the amount of heavy pipe-working equipment and hot-work activity required for the sprinkler pipework installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between domestic fire sprinklers and residential sprinkler systems?

The terms are closely related. “Domestic fire sprinklers” is commonly used when referring to systems installed in individual houses and private homes, while “residential sprinkler systems” can describe a wider range of residential properties. BS 9251 covers sprinkler systems for both domestic and residential premises.

Are fire sprinklers required in every house?

No single requirement applies to every house or jurisdiction. Requirements depend on local building regulations, the type of development and the project fire strategy. Wales, for example, requires automatic fire suppression systems in new and converted residential properties. Current local requirements should always be confirmed for the individual project.

Can a house sprinkler system be installed in an existing property?

Yes. Residential sprinkler systems can be retrofitted into existing homes. The installation should be planned around the available water supply, pipe routes, access, other building services and the amount of reinstatement required once the pipework has been fitted.

Can residential sprinkler pipework be concealed?

BlazeMaster CPVC pipework can be installed in concealed locations where this is permitted by the applicable product listing and system design. Early coordination with ceilings, walls, floors and other services can make it easier to integrate the pipework into the finished interior.

Which standard applies to domestic fire sprinklers?

For UK domestic and residential properties, BS 9251:2021 is a key code of practice. Other standards and approval requirements may apply according to the building and jurisdiction. Designers should confirm the current system standard, building regulations and product listing before specification.

RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS