American Fire Celebrates Fire Prevention Week
American Fire helps debunk common myths with sprinkler systems to fire safety
Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9, 2021. Now in its 90th year, the campaign is National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA’s) signature fire prevention awareness event and works to educate the public about simple but important actions to keep themselves and those around them safe.
American Fire’s (a CHA company) team of licensed fire protection engineers, NICET-certified design professionals, and installation technicians is ready to provide complete fire protection services, including design, installation, inspection, and maintenance of advanced commercial sprinkler systems, fire suppression systems, and fire alarms to help our clients and our communities stay fire safe.
American Fire has a long history of providing fire protection expertise in the industrial and commercial sectors. Fire Prevention Week provides us with an opportunity to share knowledge with our clients and the real-world community to help protect life, property, and businesses.
In support of Fire Prevention Week, we’re debunking a few fire sprinkler system myths to provide accurate, lifesaving information.
Myth: Fire sprinklers are unnecessary, as smoke alarms offer adequate protection.
Fact: When smoke alarms are properly installed, tested, and maintained, they provide you with an early audible or visual warning of a fire, increasing your chances of getting out safely. However, smoke detectors do not extinguish the fire; they are passive protection. Sprinklers are active protection, capable of controlling or extinguishing fires.
Myth: One sprinkler causes all sprinklers to activate.
Fact: Fire sprinklers are individually activated by heat, one sprinkler at a time, spraying water directly on the fire, leaving the rest of the building dry and secure. Data shows that 82% of fires are extinguished with, at most, only two sprinklers before the fire department arrives.
Myth: Fire sprinklers do little to save lives and reduce injuries.
Fact: When a properly installed and maintained automatic fire sprinkler system is in place, injuries and fatalities are reduced. The injury rate is 27% lower in buildings with an installed sprinkler system than in those without.
Myth: Water damage from sprinklers during fires is much worse than fire damage.
Fact: Fire sprinkler systems react quickly during a fire and discharge 20-30-gpm from each activated sprinkler. Fire Department hose streams typically discharge 50-250-gpm during fire fighting activities, far exceeding sprinkler discharge rates.
American Fire is an established full-service fire protection contractor. Our staff of licensed fire protection engineers, NICET-certified design professionals, and installation technicians deliver top-quality fire protection systems and manage your industrial, commercial, and design-build fire protection needs, including sprinkler systems, fire pumps, ground storage tanks, underground piping, special hazards, and fire alarms.
To learn more, visit: http://www.americanfireprotectioninc.com/fire-protection/fire-suppression/.
Source: American Fire Sprinkler Association.