Introduction
Fire protection system is an essential tool to prevent the spread of fire in a large indoor storage facility. The system can be a fire sprinkler, which is commonly designed to activate once a fire occurred. However, an obstruction can influence the operation of the sprinkler system. It is important that obstruction in a large storage facility must be eliminated in order for the system to function effectively to prevent further damage on the facility as a whole.
Obstruction on Fire Sprinklers
There must be a standard installation of fire sprinkler system. According to Palenske & Fletcher (2014), major obstruction on the sprinkler system influences its functionality by affecting its ability to obtain fire suppression. There could be no question as to whether the system will activate or not, but the question lies on its ability to achieve its main purpose. For an in-door storage facility, there has to be a standard height in terms of materials storage that will allow the water to spread across the facility. There is a difference between the expected outcomes if the system works properly or if it fails during the fire incident. There are some possibilities as to why it should not work, such as faulty wiring. If the system fails its notification feature, then the fire alarm system might not work as well. On the other hand, a working notification system will allow the emergency personnel to respond quickly (Artim, n.d.).
Conclusion
Obstructions can lead to failure of the fire sprinkler systems. In an in-door storage facility, there must be a standard storage guideline, which must followed at all times. Otherwise, the fire alarm or the sprinkler system itself may not function effectively during the fire incident. Thus, it is essential that proper inspection must be done to avoid obstructions and to ensure the system’s readiness in case of fire in the facility.
References
Artim, N. (n.d.). 3.2 An Introduction to Fire Detection, Alarm, and Automatic Fire Sprinklers — NEDCC. Retrieved from https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/3.-emergency-management/3.2-an-introduction-to-fire-detection,-alarm,-and-automatic-fire-sprinklers
Palenske, G. A., & Fletcher, W. N. (2014). Obstruction and ESFR Sprinkler - Phase 1.Protection Research Foundation.
