5 sprinklers in healthcare - ij

8/14/2019 5 Sprinklers in Healthcare - IJ

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Sprinklers in Healthcare23rd September 2009

Ian James G I Fire EHafod y Hendre

Builth Wells


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Objectives


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Objectives

Background

The Truths and the Myths

Legislative Position

Facts of Sprinkler Systems

Firecode Trade-Offs

Considerations & Benefits of Sprinklers in Healthcare

Cost Exercise

Conclusion


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Background


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BackgroundSprinklers have a proven track record for minimising fire lossesin buildings ( in 2007, 2 million sprinklers were installed in the

UK) however, they are seldom specified in hospitals

The reasons:

Expense

No requirement

Lack of understanding

Sprinkler Systems in Healthcare Premises Guidance Note(WHEN(09)04) published to enable informed decisions and

dispel the myths.


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The Truths and

the Myths


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It is a myth that all sprinkler heads will operate

simultaneously throughout the building

BRE Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems A good practice guide Corinne Williams


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Losses from fires in buildings protected by sprinklers are

estimated to be 1/10th

of those in unprotected buildingsSource: European statistics over 10 year period

In buildings fully protected by sprinklers:

99% of fires were controlled by sprinklers alone

60% of fires were controlled by the spray from nomore than 4 sprinklers

Source: European statistics over 10 year period

There have been no recorded cases of Legionella beingcontracted from any fire protection system in the world.Source: BASA BIF No6 Nov 2005


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Discharge due to manufacturers defects is 1 in 14,000,000(per year of service)Source: FM (USA) and Loss Prevention Council (UK) statistics

Accidental discharge of water from all causes is 1 in 500,000(per year of service).Source: FM (USA) and Loss Prevention Council (UK) statistics


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Legislation


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There are no statutory requirements for sprinklers to beprovided in hospitals

Firecode does not require sprinklers, with the exception ofhigh rise buildings (in excess of 30m) and in certain commercial

enterprises contained within hospitals

Although the design team is expected to consider theadvantages that might be gained by installing life-safety

sprinklers throughout the buildingHTM05/02 Para 6.94

The RR(FS)O does not require the inclusion of sprinklers inhealthcare premises.


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Future Legislative Position?

National Assembly recognises the potential benefits thatsprinklers can have on life safety and property protection: -

Legislative Competence Order No 7 (LCO) aims to introduce arequirement that sprinkler systems be installed in new

residential / domestic premises

Wales Arson Reduction Strategy(2007)

reduce the cost to society of fires in public buildings, notingthat actions to increase the use of sprinklers in public buildings(which includes those of the NHS) should be explored withincentives introduced to encourage their use.


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Sprinkler Standards

Sprinklers in healthcare premises should be installed inaccordance with BS EN 12845 Fixed fire fighting systems -

Automatic sprinkler systems - Design, installation and maintenance

Alternatively, subject to the type of building being considered,

a BS 9251:2005 Sprinkler systems for residential and domesticoccupancies system may be specified i.e. for staff residences orresidential homes.


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Overview of

Sprinkler Systems


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How do Sprinklers Extinguish/Control Fire?

Suppress and control the fire

Wet surrounding combustible materials

Wet surfaces to cool the building structure

Cool smoky gases

Reduce the likelihood of flashover


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Facts of Sprinkler Operation

Sprinkler heads are heat activated valves

Generally operate at 30oc above the highest anticipated ambient

temperature, normally being 68oc

Operating temperatures are indicated by colour coding

Only the head(s) that reach their operating temperature will discharge water

Sprinklers do not false alarm - they only operate when heated (by fire)

Sprinklers respond quicker than the FRS therefore a smaller fire toextinguish and less water discharge

Glass bulb coding


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Types of Sprinkler Systems

Wet

Permanently charged with water

Dry

System charged with compressed air, used where freezing water

may be encountered all the year round. When a sprinkler operates,the compressed air is released opening the control valve, allowingwater to flow into the pipework and through the open sprinkler

AlternateSystem charged with water in the summer and air in the winterwhen there is a danger of pipework freezing


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Types of Sprinkler Systems

Pre-action

Based on dry system. Comprises of a standard sprinkler system

linked to an independent system of detectors installed in the sameareas as the sprinklers. When a detector activates the system opensthe control valves, allowing water to flow into the sprinklerpipework in readiness for the first sprinkler to operate upon heat

Deluge

Designed to bring a large number of open sprayers into actionsimultaneously in the event of a fire (high hazards areas such as plant

or aircraft hangars)Recycling

Similar to pre-action, with ability to stop/start flow in response to

fire conditions thereby minimising potential water damage.


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Hazard Classification

Sprinkler systems are designed for specific hazard classes.BS 12845 classes Hospitals as Ordinary Hazard Group 1

Hazard classification determines:

water volume and duration

pressure and flow requirements

maximum area of operation etc

Generally water capacity and discharge increases with the higherthe classification.


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Life Safety Systems

Firecode - where sprinklers are installed to satisfy the requirements ofFirecode or the Building Regulations, they should be regarded as a life-safety

systemHTM05/02 Para 6.98

Life-safety systems are defined in BS 12845 as sprinkler systems forming anintegral part of measures required for the protection of life

Life safety systems require additional features, including duplicate valve setsand pumps, increased zoning, fast response sprinkler heads (in certaincircumstances), and increased monitoring of valves in accordance with BS

12845 Annex FSprinkler systems are complex and should only be entrusted to 3rd partyaccredited organisations


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Firecode

Requirements


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Firecode Trade-Offs

HTM05/02 Para 6.109 states, Where sprinklers are installed, theguidance may be modified subject to a suitable and sufficient risk

assessment being undertaken and the information being recordedin the fire safety manual

Sprinklers can also be used to compensate for greater designfreedom and more open spatial planning, (generally addressed aspart of a more detailed fire engineered package of fireprecautions)


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Firecode Trade-Offs

Glazing in Sub-Compartment Walls No restriction on the size of un-insulated glazing in sub-

compartment walls where sprinklers are provided, i.e. no limiton the use of 30-minute (integrity only) glazing

Insulating glass is significantly more expensive, removing thelimitation also allows greater design flexibility

(HTM 05:02 5.295.31)


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Firecode Trade-Offs

Elements of Structure Where sprinklers are provided throughout the whole building

the periods of fire resistance to elements of structure can bereduced by 30-minutes

Limited cost benefit for concrete frame - more significant forsteel frame buildings

Restrictions on the use of materials of limited combustibility canalso be dispensed with if sprinklers are provided.

(HTM 05:02 6.26.4 and 6.11)


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Firecode Trade-Offs

Compartmentation In sprinkler protected buildings up to 12m above ground level

compartment walls can be reduced from 60-minutes to 30-

minutes FR Minor cost savings, e.g. a 60-minute fire door could be

reduced to 30-minute rating, compartment walls still requirefire smoke dampers (linked to the fire alarm system)

(HTM 05:02 6.56.11 & PHE 5.45.11)


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Firecode Trade-Offs

Fire Hazard Rooms and Areas Where sprinklers are installed, subject to risk assessment,

there is no need to enclose individual fire hazard rooms in 30-

minute fire-resistance construction Significant cost benefit, especially in facilities providing care for

mental health or elderly occupancies, as these bedroomswould traditionally require 30-minute protection.

(HTM 05:02 6.286.34)


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Firecode Trade-Offs

External Fire Spread

Space separation distances between buildings or facing

compartments can be halved if sprinklers are provided External envelope protection requirements for re-entrant

angle protection can be relaxed if sprinklers are provided

(HTM 05:02 6.636.76)


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Firecode Trade-Offs

Number and Location of Fire-Fighting Shafts

Potential reduction in the number / location of fire fightingshafts if sprinklers are provided.

(HTM 05:02 7.197.20)


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Considerations


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Responsibility & Maintenance

Systems are reliable - It is generally accepted that correctlyspecified and installed systems may not require any major

modification for 30 years

RR(FS)O Article 17 requires that the responsible personmaintains the general fire precautions for the protection of the

relevant personsBS12845 details maintenance/testing requirements(manufacturers recommendations should also be followed)

The RP must ensure that regular PPM is undertaken and robustprocedures are in place for reactive maintenance

Consideration should also be given to fire safety during system

shut down/isolation periods.


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Faults / Accidental & Malicious Damage

Statistically, the likelihood of a sprinkler head activating throughmanufacturing fault is 1 in 14,000,000 and spuriously from any

cause is 1 in 500,000

WHE research confirmed that there has been only one suchinstance, whereby a sprinkler head in close proximity to a faulty

heater outlet activatedThe risk of accidental damage can be further mitigated with theprovision of sprinkler head guards or concealed type sprinkler

heads, in areas where heads may be exposed to potential damageAll sprinkler systems have an alarm valve - any activation willcause the water flow alarm to operate, thus alerting the

occupants.


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Points of Ligature

It is possible that the body (yoke) of atraditional sprinkler head could be misused as a

point of ligature

Institutional sprinkler heads could be specified

Specifically designed for use inprisons and mental health facilities to

remove the risk ligature, whilst alsoreducing (not eliminating) thepotential for tampering


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Future Flexibility

Hospitals are often considered to be dynamic environments

The change of use of individual rooms or ward occupancies is

unlikely to result in any significant complications with thesprinkler system

Alterations to internal partitions (i.e. removing or erecting new

partitions), will require liaison with the sprinklerinstallation/maintenance contractor to ensure that thealterations do not negate the effectiveness of the installation

Where modification of a sprinkler installation becomesnecessary, robust procedures will also be required to ensureadequate fire safety during periods of isolation.


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Cost Exercise


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Cost Exercise

Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan(YAB) 107 single-bed, two storey hospital being built in Ebbw Vale

Ward A comprising 32 single-bedrooms (with en-suites) used for

the study

Four options were assessed in the cost evaluation: -

Option 1 Ward A without sprinklers (assuming Elderly Occupancy)Option 2 Ward A without sprinklers (assuming Medical/Surgical Occupancy)

Option 3 Ward A with sprinklers (including ceiling void suppression)

Option 4 Ward A with sprinklers (without ceiling void suppression)

All options were based on a fully code-compliant HTM05/02design, except Option 4 which addressed a derogation omittingceiling void suppression.


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Extent of Ward A

Cost Exercise

Ward A Ysbyty Aneurin BevanWard A (typical first floor plan)

32 single bed/en-suite rooms


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Cost Exercise

Comparison of CostsOption Cost of fire

precautions *

Cost difference

compared with Option 4

1 without sprinklers (assumingElderly Occupancy) 80,429

28,227

more expensive than Option 4

2 without sprinklers (assumingMedical/Surgical Occupancy)

1,617 50,585

less expensive than Option 4

3 with sprinklers (including

ceiling void suppression)

64,681 12,479

more expensive than Option 4

4 with sprinklers (withoutceiling void suppression)

52,202 0

* The cost of fire precautions relates solely to the features that can be varied throughthe recognised trade-offs for hazard room enclosures if sprinklers are provided

Excludes costs for the fire precautions that are common to all four options, eg theescape lighting, AFD, signage or extinguishers, these features are required regardless ofthe provision of sprinklers or not.

C t E i


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Cost Exercise

Option 1 - Without sprinklers (assuming Elderly Occupancy)32 x 30minute fire walls/doors

32 x Glazing 2.5m2 @ 650/m2

71 x Dampers to Mech Vent.

Area ofglazing

Approx2.5m2

Extract Supply

Damper

C t E i


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Cost Exercise

Summary

Sprinklers are not necessarily more expensive to install

Exercise only focussed on hazard rooms, proves YAB wouldhave cost over 100,000 more WITHOUT sprinklers

Sprinklers at YAB equate to approx 30/m2

Further research required to address: -

Full costing appraisal addressing all recognised trade-offs

Life cycle costing Cost impact following a fire.


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Conclusion


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Conclusion

It is extremely important that decisions concerning firesafety in healthcare premises should be well informed so an

objective overview of the key issues should be consideredwhen evaluating the merits of sprinkler systems for particularprojects

WHEN(09)04 calls out for Trusts and their appointed designteams to fully consider all of the implications and potential

benefits offered by sprinkler systems in the design ofhealthcare premises through a thorough option appraisalprocess.


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Summary

Background



Facts of Sprinkler Systems

Firecode Trade-Offs

Considerations & Benefits of Sprinklers in Healthcare

Cost Exercise

Conclusion

5 sprinklers in healthcare - ij

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