Home Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler systems in homes are becoming increasingly common. Before the revised British standard (BS9251:2014) these were referred to as domestic sprinklers. With the new standard they are now referred to as Category 1 sprinklers. Designed for a property usually occupied by a single family, typically a private residence they are essentially Home Sprinkler Systems.

Sprinklers are now widely used as part of the fire strategy in new-build homes. Building regulations may also require them to be fitted during building renovations – particularly if you’re planning a large domestic open plan space or converting a loft. Choosing to fit a sprinkler in your home gives you more design options. More importantly a sprinkler is your first line of defence against fire. We will design, install and maintain a home sprinkler system that will contain a blaze within seconds of it breaking out, therefor buying precious time for the fire brigade to arrive. As a result lives and possessions to be saved. Not only do fire sprinklers protect families and vulnerable people, they also protect animals, art collections, exquisite interior designs, classic cars and lavish soft furnishings. Who would not want protection from fire?

Even if they’re not required, domestic sprinklers are still your home’s best defence against fire and can be designed to cover all or just part of your property. The type of system you’ll need will depend on the pressure of your mains water and installation is often straightforward. Pipework can be hidden under floorboards and sprinkler heads fitted flush to ceilings. As a result once the system is installed you’ll barely notice its there. 

Your home is the most precious place on earth. It’s where you keep your most valued possessions and treasured memories. But in the event of a fire, everything in your home could be lost. Perhaps in as little as a few minutes. That’s less time than it takes the fire brigade to arrive. It could even be less time than it takes for the alarm to be raised. What have you got to lose?

Cost of fitting a Home Sprinkler System

A domestic fire sprinkler system is not expensive, costing typically less than 2% of the cost of an average new house. That is usually less than the cost of carpeting the house. The difference is that a fire sprinkler system is designed to last at least 50 years.

The cost of adding a full fire sprinkler system to an average 3 bedroom family home is in the region of £3,000 – £9,000 depending on the system type. This price is based on a system typically including 10 – 20 sprinkler heads. Generally the mains fed sprinkler system is the more cost effective option, but is not always possible. The type of install will affect the cost. A new build (under construction) is much easier to install than retrospective into a completed property. For example we recently installed a mains fed system in a private home for under £3,000.

Very often, the areas of a building at highest risk of fire or where additional security is required, can be protected by a part coverage fire sprinkler system. Naturally this would be a smaller system and so the costs are reduced.

There are many options when trying to protect a building from fire. The costs indicated above are only a guide and exact prices vary significantly dependent on the size and nature of the project. These costs do not include water or power supplies or fees. 

For free advice and a no obligation quotation;

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Design Requirements of a Home Sprinkler System

For a home sprinkler the water main requirement criteria is lower, more typical of a domestic property. There is no need for any specialist electricity supply and less space for water storage is needed should this be required.

The following information summarises the key requirements for home sprinkler or domestic sprinkler compared to the other categories of fire sprinkler systems:

Hazard Category

System

Category 1 (Typically a domestic property for a single family)

A 32/50mm water main*

Minimum water flow rate of 60 litres per minute.

Category 2 (Typically a block of flats over 18m)

A 50/63mm water main*

Minimum water flow rate of 130 litres per minute.

Category 3 (Typically a residential care home)

A 63mm water main*

Minimum water flow rate of 240 litres per minute.

Town Mains Fed

3 bar (guide)*

3A unswitched spur (for alarm panel)

Access to run pipe-work

Effective stored water capacity between 1m3 and 1.5m3*

Room for a self-testing pump

4.5 bar (guide)*

3A unswitched spur (for alarm panel)

Access to run pipe-work

Effective stored water capacity between 3m3 and 4.5m3*

Room for a self-testing pump

6 bar (guide)*

3A unswitched spur (for alarm panel)

Access to run pipe-work

Effective stored water capacity between 6m3 and 9m3*

Room for a self-testing pump

Pump and Tank Fed

A proven infill to water tank (if provided there is a possibility that the tank size could be reduced)

Single phase 230v electrical supply for self-testing pump (via type C MCB)

3A unswitched spur

Access to run pipe-work

A proven infill to water tank (if provided there is a possibility that the tank size could be reduced)

Three-phase 400v electrical supply for a self testing pump (via type C MCB)

3A unswitched spur

Access to run pipe-work

A proven infill to water tank (if provided there is a possibility that the tank size could be reduced)

Three-phase 400v electrical supply for a self testing pump (via type C MCB)

3A unswitched spur

Access to run pipe-work

 

* Subject to full hydraulic calculations

Further information on building regulations and fact sheets relating to domestic and residential fire sprinkler requirements and safety standards can found on our building regulation fact sheets.

Back to Fire Sprinklers

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Fire Sprinkler Specialists

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Ultrasafe, Unit 1 Bowlings Corner, Marley Lane, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 0RE

Northern Office

U2 Farriers Court, Horsefair Green, Thorne, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK, DN8 5EE



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