30 C O N T E X T 1 1 3 : M A R C H 2 0 1 0 will be relatively tiny when compared to the later application of water from fire and rescue service hoses to fight a developed fire. Concerns about water leakage from heads and distribution pipework are also frequently aired. In fact, a properly installed sprinkler system should be less likely to leak than any other water supply service within a building as the components of the system will have been subjected to a rigorous quality assurance regime and are listed by a third party certification body. The designer and installer of the system will also have been subjected to the scrutiny and approval process of the appropriate certification body. As a final safeguard, systems are provided with an automatic alarm to give warning of water leakage from the system. This alarm is water powered and so independent of an electrical supply. Most modern systems also have an electrically operated water flow alarm valve. This is usually connected to the fire detection control panel, so as to summon the fire and rescue service should the sprinkler system operate. Care should be taken when deciding the detailed specification of sprinkler systems to ensure that the chemical content and nature of the sprinkler water supply has been taken into account. The selection of system materials must also ensure that no incompatibility of metals arises between components which could, for example, cause corrosion through electrolytic reaction. In some circumstances, the installation of sprinklers will be rewarded by more favourable insurance terms. Large discounts are likely to be offered for commercial risks such as hotels, care homes and offices, as well as lower deductibles and extended coverage when properties are left empty for much of the year. Scotland has pioneered the use of water-based fire suppression systems to protect historic buildings. A significant body of experience has been built up in relation to designing and installing these systems in a sympathetic and non-intrusive way. Buildings known to be protected so far include Duff House in Banff, the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, Newhailes House in East Lothian, and Broughton House in Dumfries and Galloway. In 2007 the first scheduled ancient monument was protected when a sprinkler system was installed in Corgarff Castle,West Aberdeenshire 5. Sprinkler systems should be designed and installed in accordance with BS EN 12845 Fixed firefighting systems – Automatic sprinkler systems: design, installation and maintenance (2009) 6. The former standard, BS 5306 Part 2, withdrawn in 2007, should no longer be used for new installations or extensions to existing systems. Domestic and residential properties (for example, residential care homes, hostels and school boarding houses) can be protected by sprinkler systems designed and installed to BS 9251:20057 Sprinkler systems for residential and domestic occupancies, code of practice. Sprinkler systems in hotels, boarding houses and similar premises should be installed to BS EN 12845:2009. Chimney stacks at Leslie House, in Kirkcaldy, Fife, after a fire in 2009. Developers had been renovating the building, which was built between 1660 and 1670 for John Leslie, the first Duke of Rothes, who was Lord Chancellor of Scotland in the reign of Charles II. (Photo: © Crown Copyright: RCAHMS. Licensor www.rcahms. gov.uk) 5 In 1998 Historic Scotland published TAN 14, The Installation of Sprinklers Systems in Historic Buildings to provide comprehensive guidance on this subject. 6 Note that a new version of this standard will be published in 2010 or 2011. These further changes will reflect mainly the correction of errors in the 2004 version. 7 Note that this standard is to be subject to a full review in 2010 and a new version is likely to be published in 2011.
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