You might be unaware that you have a problem with your sprinkler system. The Fire Protection Industry requires minimum pressures for the specific risk in a built environment, and any reduction in the mains water pressure can render a fixed Fire Protection System to be non-compliant.

Problem

Zara's problem was an undertaking by their Local Water Authorities to reduce the pressures on the Towns Main Infrastructure in an attempt to reduce leakage rates. This resulted in the existing fire protection system no longer having the necessary pressure to meet the appropriate risk requirements, endangering both life and property in the Zara building. Also at Zara space was an issue being situated on London's busy Oxford St. room for fixed external water storage and fire pumps weren’t an option. Zara came to Project Fire Engineers because we could deliver the solution they needed, a way boosting the pressure in their existing system where space is limited.

Solution

So Zara needed to increase the pressure in their existing system in order to bring it back to full-compliance. This is where Project Fire Engineers experience and innovation delivered. The PRESSURECHECK® System a patented product of Project Fire Engineers Ltd was the solution. The PRESSURECHECK® system is designed to be the space efficient alternative to external water storage and fire pumps. A PRESSURECHECK® is a unique system devised to augment the town mains supply in situations where the guaranteed pressure stated by the local water authorities is not sufficient. It’s designed to operate automatically on a drop in pressure in the sprinkler system. In a fire condition should the pressure fall to the degree whereby it needs to be boosted to meet the hazard classification then the fire booster pump will self activate to correct the system operating pressure.

Project Fire started the ball rolling with the design of the PRESSURECHECK® system at our base in Hixon where we also build, wire and test the PRESSURECHECK® before it reaches its actual location. The PRESSURECHECK® had to be custom built due to the tight space in the Zara building where it was to be installed. To tackle this problem the strainer and isolation valve were situated in the adjacent compartment to the PRESSURECHECK® that homes the incoming mains. Isolating valves were not fitted to the suction line, a facility was provided to enable quick isolation of each pump independently which now meant the PRESSURECHECK® could then be built into the space in which it was to be situated. The PRESSURECHECK® was delivered on site in parts, as the location where it was to be installed was tight. Then one of our highly trained engineers assembled the new PRESSURECHECK® system in its actual location. A PRESSURECHECK® system can be built in sections so that it can be easily passed through any standard door opening or supplied as one single unit. After installation we also provided training for personal at Zara on daily routine, weekly routine and quarterly routine tests that are applicable to the PRESSURECHECK® system.

Result

The PRESSURECHECK® installed at Zara now brings their system back into full compliance with the appropriate risk requirements, the national code standard BS5306 part 2 1990 / EN12845 having all components third party approved and carries full WRAS certification. Now in the event of a fire the people at Zara can now feel safe in the fact that their fire protection system is up to standards and their building now has a reduced risk of property damage or even loss of life.

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