How the latest fire safety solutions put people and planet first

All eyes are on fire safety in the building services sector. 2022 saw new duties introduced in England under the Fire Safety Order for building owners or managers to put additional safety measures in place¹, while here in Ireland, consultation is underway to bring the country into line with the rest of the UK.

All new apartment buildings in Northern Ireland above 11m tall could require automatic fire suppression systems such as sprinklers², but the proposals do not include a requirement to retrofit existing buildings. The Irish Cabinet has launched a 2.5bn repair scheme to fix fire safety and other defects in 100,000 apartments and duplexes built during the Celtic Tiger boom era of the mid-1990s to late-2000s³.

Yet neither task should be daunting: whereas in the past, fire prevention systems were seen as costly to install and complicated to manage, modern sprinkler systems can be connected to a break tank or a mains water supply easily and efficiently to allow facilities managers to harness a building's water systems to increase fire prevention capabilities and ensure occupants' safety.

Controls that provide peace of mind

Fire sprinkler pumps and controls come as one modular skid package. Xylem's Lowara GEM series is easy to fit to both new and existing buildings. The range of modules can be combined to form a tailor-made solution that conforms to the rigorous European Standard EN 12845; what's more, it requires only three connections to function: suction pipes, discharge pipes, and a reliable electrical supply.

This build-your-own approach means the features are up to you: skids can be a combination of diesel and electric skids, with or without a jockey pump and designed around suction lift conditions or flooded suction. Automatic self-test and shut-off functions mean maintenance can be carried out without fully switching off the system, and the sets also benefit from the latest automated controls that can test the functionality of the system, reduce the likelihood of dry-runs or overheating, and prevent sprinklers from activating unnecessarily.

As well as offering monthly self-test cycles, the GEM system offers provision to test the pumps manually as and when needed, with an optional external monitoring service available to warn of possible failures and provide real-time data on pump performance.

Ensuring safety and sustainability

Traditional fire safety measures often come at the cost of increased energy consumption and environmental impact. However, advances in technology and building practices have paved the way for energy-efficient fire protection solutions that not only ensure the safety of occupants but also minimise the carbon footprint. Comprehensive fire safety measures can be extended to include monitoring and control of assets and systems, which ensure service and safety and offer the most effective way to optimise performance. Xylem ensures that the customer's selection is the most efficient possible -  with pumps that only use the power they need, delivering both lower Capital costs and operational costs thus enabling the end user to lower their carbon footprint.

Prioritise fire safety today

Solid fire prevention strategies should always be a top priority, and the installation of a trustworthy sprinkler system is an easy, cost-effective way to get started. Designed and tested to meet a building's most demanding requirements, modern firefighting booster sets deliver water when needed and could soon be a further boon if the regulations are extended to commercial buildings.
And, by embracing innovative technologies, thoughtful design principles, and sustainable maintenance practices, we can create a safer environment while reducing our ecological footprint without compromising on standards.

First published in Building Services News, Ireland September/October 2023 edition

By Kevin Devine, Sales Director, Xylem Ireland

^{1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-england-regulations-2022/fact-sheet-overview
2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-66112532
3 https://news.sky.com/story/ireland-launches-eur2-5bn-scheme-to-repair-fire-safety-defects-in-homes-12789487}