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Sprinkler Systems
02/07/12
Sprinkler systems have been identified as an effective tool for the control
of wildland fire. Several sprinkler products exist in the market with various
pump, hose and sprinkler combinations currently available.
The interest in sprinklers is divided into two research areas. First, the use
of sprinklers to protect structures from wildfire in a rural / urban interface
situations and second, the use of sprinklers as a tool for containment of wildland
and prescribed fire.
Structure protection involves applying water in sufficient quantities and locations
to inhibit ignition from a passing wildfire. The volume of water necessary and
placement of the water is dependent on building design, construction materials
and adjacent forest fuels.
The containment of a fire burning in a forest fuels requires the sprinkler
system provide an effective barrier to fire spread. The objective of structure
protection differs from wildfire containment and the equipment and techniques
used are thought to differ.
This project will focus on the use of sprinklers to reduce the ignition of
forest fuels and to build a barrier to fire spread in the wildland fire environment.
The project will help develop a better understanding of what sprinkler systems
can be expected to accomplish and when and how to use them.
The project will produce guidelines to assist fire managers in planning the
location and sprinkler system requirements based on anticipated fire behaviour.
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