Fire consultant or designer?
The solutions from Prevent Systems meet requirements for documentation of products for construction works and technical solutions, in addition to requirements in the water mist standard EN 14972-1.
See Note from RISE Fire Research confirming this.
Below you will find factors we believe are important for choosing the right fire suppression system for your project:
Documented solution
First and foremost, the solution must meet the requirements of the Building Technical Regulations and relevant standards. This includes both documentation requirements and the technical requirements in the regulations. The technical building code allows for the use of alternative systems to sprinkler. These must be documented to be suitable for the use. If a standard is referred to, it can be used as a basis for documenting that the solution meets the requirements, even if it is not referred to as a pre-accepted performance.
With our solutions, you can be confident that they meet the efficiency and reliability requirements required by regulations and standards. See the Note from RISE Fire Research confirming this.
The water mist standard is oftentimes not referred to in the Building Codes. However, water mist systems are considered to be an equivalent alternative to sprinklers if they comply with a water mist standard like EN 14972-1:2020, FM 5560, VdS 3188 or BS 8489, for the type of area and volume they have been successfully tested for.
This means that water mist systems that can document that the requirements of the standard have been met only need a simple analysis - it is sufficient to refer to the standard.
This leads to less risk for the fire consultant who refers to the use of the water mist standard in the fire concept, and for the designer who has a dimensioning standard to follow.
Quality, maintenance and life cycle costs
Most consultants are concerned with quality and total investment costs for their clients. With low-pressure water mist, you get a fire extinguishing system for less than half the price when comparing the life cycle costs to a traditional sprinkler system!
Our systems use only stainless steel pipes and parts. This means less need for replacements over time with significantly lower maintenance costs. A traditional fire extinguishing system with steel pipes must be replaced at least once, if not twice, compared to the life of a stainless system.
When remodeling or adjusting, stainless steel pipes and parts will be reused, which is good for both the environment and your wallet.
Space-saving
Low-pressure water misting gives architects greater flexibility in the design phase, thanks to the system's smaller pipe dimensions and less space-consuming installation. This allows for more efficient use of the building's space and can free up space for other installations or for higher ceiling heights that improve the aesthetics of the room and give a more open feel.
It is also possible to reduce floor heights and maintain the same interior ceiling height, which can save the project significant construction costs.
Efficiency on the construction site
In a typical office building of around 3400m2, a complete water mist system, according to a Green Plumbing report , will weigh approx. 1.3 metric tons, while a sprinkler system will weigh approx. 9.8 tons. The difference in materials and weight will lead to less need for storage space, simplified logistics and a faster installation, which will overall help to increase efficiency on site.
Water consumption
A low-pressure water mist system uses around 1/3 of the water consumption compared to conventional sprinkler systems. This not only reduces potential water damage in the event of a system operating, but also shortens downtime. It can also help reduce the strain on the building's water supply.
Sustainability and environment
See the Green Plumbing report comparing greenhouse gas emissions from fire extinguishing systems. The savings from a low-pressure water mist system compared to traditional systems are startling!
By choosing a low-pressure water mist system, builders can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the fire extinguishing system by up to 76%. This is significant when you know that HVAC deliveries are a large proportion of emissions from buildings, up to 40%, and that the sprinkler system represents approximately 1/3 of the HVAC delivery.
Anyone who is concerned about the environment and sustainable solutions should read the Green HVAC Report!