Skip to content

There’s a high price to pay if you can’t trust what’s over your head

Security Door
4 min read

 

Chris Cutajar – Chief Operating Officer – Alberta Group

It’s a fact that a fire sprinkler system can help control fires and reduce injury, deaths and damages, often by 80% or more. But it’s never just as simple as a quick design and implementation. The quality of your fire sprinkler installation will affect its ability to keep you, or your tenants safe. To such an extent that you might even be better having no system in place than holding onto a false sense of security with a faulty one.

Creating a reliable building fire protection strategy requires the proper initial design and then professional installation of an automatic sprinkler system. Investigations after fire incidents reveal several causes associated with sprinkler system failures. From complete failure to operate, to ineffectiveness to control a fire and therefore failure to limit damages to life and property, poor fire sprinkler performance costs money and costs lives. Here are some of the top reasons why they fail to work:

  • The water supply is shut off, the pressure is inadequate or there was an obstruction to the system’s water distribution.
  • The system hasn’t been designed for the proper hazard level.
  • Inadequate system maintenance.

The great news is that Fire Protection Engineers have made brilliant advances in the fire sprinkler industry recently, with new technologies and design methodologies making the systems more efficient and reliable.

But it’s not all plain sailing.

Whilst technology is improving, there are still industry-wide concerns over existing inconsistences in the design and installation of fire protection systems. The truth is that these systems will not perform their intended function if not designed properly, irrelevant of technological improvements. As opposed to just ‘fitting in’ with the building’s layout, careful thought and consideration needs to be implemented from the onset. It’s all too common for fire protection engineers who have worked in the building design/construction industry to witness shoddy work by engineers who failed to conduct proper detailed designs.

Bad designs, bad protection.

 It starts with the design-document-phase of a project. Sometimes the only design information supplied on the drawings is “Sprinkler System to Comply with EN”. At the same time, the documents can include a “boilerplate” specification that does not correspond with the specific project requirements. Sometimes that isn’t even there.

Inadequate designs with limited information have led to engineering decisions being made during the shop drawing phase of the project, often by professionals who are not engineers. These inconsistencies can lead to non-competitive bids from contractors, presenting unnecessary challenges to the various code authorities who are asked to review the designs.

It gets messy and it gets dangerous.

Identify the buildings hazard level

 If tackled correctly the first step of the fire sprinkler design process is determining the hazard level of the building in question. At Alberta we assess the materials used during the construction, the amount of people in the building, the types of materials stored there and the processes/operations that are performed inside. We also look into details like ceiling heights, ease of egress and the number of floors and rooms in the building.

 

The theoretical design area

 Once we’ve assessed the hazard level in the building, the next step is to decipher the “design area,” which is the theoretical space where a fire breakout would be the most hazardous or cause the most damage. After we’ve determined the exact risk level this area poses, the same level of risk is then applied to the rest of the building.

We consider how much water it would take to put out a fire in the design area and use this information to build our fire sprinkler design. It assists us to determine the specifics of the fire sprinkler design such as the types of sprinkler heads and the amount of water pressure needed, which is extremely important.

Aided by our advanced fire sprinkler design software, our fire sprinkler design engineers calculate this amount, considering not only initial water pressure but also pipe friction, momentum, changes in elevation and so on. No detail is overlooked, which is the way should be.

 

 

Protection by professionals

As we have always done, we urge project managers, property owners, developers and business leaders who are responsible for the safety of the public not to cut corners. Go with a company you can rely on to get it right from the start.

Our fire safety professionals have been protecting clients’ businesses and homes in Malta and around the globe for over 30 years. Trust is a reputation we’ve earned and that we’ll never take for granted.

 

We are Alberta!

Related Insights

The catastrophic fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017, which resulted in 72 fatalities, starkly exposed the critical shortcomings in building safety protocols and the devastating impact of their failures. At the heart of high-rise building safety is the “stay put” policy, which was central to Grenfell’s design. This policy crucially depends on robust compartmentation … Continued

22
Nov

When businesses invest in security solutions, the transaction doesn’t conclude at the point of sale. The true value is realised through comprehensive after-sales support, ensuring that these solutions continue to protect and perform optimally throughout their lifecycle. This support is not just an additional service; it’s a cornerstone of your security investment, providing peace of … Continued

30
Aug

In regions blessed with abundant sunshine like Malta, the parallel between the protective measures we take for our skin and those for our homes becomes strikingly apparent. Just as we apply sunscreen to shield our skin from harmful UV rays, a comprehensive home security system acts as a protective barrier for our home, filtering out … Continued

30
May

In 2024, nearly 450 million European Union citizens will have the opportunity to elect their representatives to the European Parliament, impacting policies, including fire safety in buildings—a crucial issue since people spend 90% of their time indoors. The manifesto emphasizes the importance of prioritizing fire safety across all EU buildings, considering the alarming statistics of … Continued

7
May

The Alarming Reality: In 2024, Europol’s findings revealed that Malta is among the top five countries most targeted by organized criminal networks, bringing to light the serious security challenges the country faces. These criminal gangs are not just engaging in petty thefts; they are involved in highly organized activities, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, and … Continued

24
Apr

A Unified Vision for Enhanced Safety Partnering with Motorola Solutions allows us to harness the advanced capabilities of Avigilon technology, significantly enhancing safety and security across various sectors. This collaboration is especially noteworthy given Motorola Solutions’ recent accolade as one of Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024. This prestigious recognition highlights their unwavering … Continued

4
Apr
SECU
RITY

Custom fire & security packages to suit your home or business needs

Solutions as unique as your home and business. We provide custom fire protection and fire security packages to suit your unique needs and budget. One investment. A lifetime of protection.

Our trusted Suppliers and Partners in Fire, Safety and Security

Logo for advanced
Logo for advancis
Logo for aiphone
Logo for apollo
Logo for Automatic Systems
Logo for avd
Logo for Avigilon
Logo for barpa
Logo for benica
Logo for bft
Logo for bosch
Logo for dmv
Logo for emergency one
Logo for EZVIZ
Logo for hikvision
Logo for kaba
Logo for kidde
Logo for lasemaforica
Logo for paxtop
Logo for risco
Logo for Salto
Logo for sebino
Logo for sidel
Logo for siemens
Logo for suprema
Logo for toa
Logo for Vanderbilt
Logo for vingcard
Logo for xtralis
Skip to content