Channel Fire are leading specialists in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of commercial fire sprinklers, including wet, alternate, dry pipe and pre-action sprinkler systems.

All design, installation and maintenance work we carry out will be in line with the latest British standards, the current one being BS EN 12845:2015.

The automatic fire sprinkler system is the most widely used fire protection system today. Sprinklers have been used to protect property and life since 1872 and modern innovations have made fire sprinklers even more effective at combating fire. These systems are designed to protect property or life as specified by the various automatic fire sprinkler standards. Within commercial properties, the British standard BS EN 12845:2015 would be used. In special circumstances, some of our systems are designed and installed to NFPA 13 and FM Global standards. Over 40 million sprinkler heads are fitted worldwide every year.

Sprinkler systems are simple in design. However, to comply with building regulations, the insurer or fire officer, they must adhere to the standards to achieve compliance.

Sprinkler systems can come in various forms, depending on the use of the area, protection requirement and environment.

WET SYSTEMS

The most common conventional installation used in most applications. Pipework is permanently charged with water, ready to be discharged in the event of a fire.

DRY SYSTEMS

Used in areas where the temperature is sub-zero and prone to freezing. The pipework is pressurised with air; once the air pressure is reduced due to a head activation, the control valve will release water into the pipework.

DELUGE SYSTEMS

Used generally to protect high hazard industrial areas and fuel/gas tanks as once activated, all heads are operated to completely envelope the fire in water.

ALTERNATE SYSTEMS

Systems that change between being wet and dry, depending on the time of year, are generally not installed any longer due to the high maintenance costs and internal rust issues. We can service and maintain these systems.

FOAM SYSTEMS

Used in high hazard areas normally around fuel such as in aircraft hangars, the water within the system is mixed with a low or high expansion foam solution to create an effective means to cover the fire and extinguish it.

PRE-ACTION SYSTEMS

Pre-action systems are best used in areas where sprinklers would need to be activated in extreme fire situations for example server rooms. Generally single knock or double knock are used, Single knock requires both the sprinkler and an electrical alarm such as heat/smoke detector to be activated for water to be discharged. Double knock is where the sprinkler and two electrical alarms have to be activated for water to be discharged.