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| Roof Top Sprinkler Systems |
Roof-Top Sprinkler Systems
FACT: In the face of an advancing wildfire, a structure with a properly implemented FireSmart Program in combination with an operational exterior rooftop sprinkler system, has a survival probability of above 90%.Sprinklers are one of the oldest methods but one of the newest technologies in wildfire control and property fire protection in wildland areas. Unlike the sprinkler systems found inside buildings, these outdoor units are not intended to put out a fire. Instead, they work in the following manner:
- Sprinklers are used to thoroughly wet down an area. This results in combustibles (buildings and landscape) being much less likely to ignite due to flying embers and the intense heat of a nearby fire.
- The soaked landscape releases moisture into the air. This lowers the ambient temperature and increases the humidity level of the immediate area. These effects extend some distance above ground level. The result is that the advancing wildfire will tend to be deflected by this less supportive environmental pocket and pass by the protected property.
- Sprinklers are most effective when in continual operation for 2 or more hours prior to the arrival of the fire. However, any operational time, even as little as an hour, will increase chances of a successful defence of the property.
This approach has proven to be highly effective with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources being internationally recognized as leaders in the area. When Ontario is sends forestfire fighting personnel to other provinces or countries, sprinkler crews make up a significant component of the team.
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| Photo: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources |
British Columbia 2003 -- After the fire |
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Various components are available to provide you with complete protection including:
- Individual sprinkler heads
- Fascia sprinkler mounts
- Stake/spike sprinkler -- attach to roof, poles, trees, etc.
- Fire Pump packages to supply sprinklers
A rooftop sprinkler system is not just for fire protection. Because it is designed to provide gentle water distribution over a large area, it is a perfect means of keeping your landscape green and lush. On a hot summer day, it will even provide natural cooling - no need for an air conditioning system. Not only will your surroundings look attractive (when everything around you is dried and brown) but it will be fire safe.
Take a look at Protect Your Home From Wildfire
(2 pages, 1196 KB) -- a brochure from the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources.
Another reference — Wildfire Water Pumping and Sprinkler System Handbook, 4th Edition
(37 pages, 2,431 KB) by Jason Gogal, P.Eng.
View sprinkler installation Case Study #1
View sprinkler installation Case Study #2
Planning For Build or Renovate???
Did You Know That ...
- In a wildfire event, most structures are lost due to ignition by flying embers. You don't have to lose your building.
- Exterior sprinklers have better than a 90% success rate in saving structures in wildfires.
- Firefighters will make a greater effort to save a property which the owner has taken obvious steps to make firesafe.
- What happens during the first 10 minutes of a fire usually determines the outcome.
- Your cottage sauna has the highest fire risk — followed by your boathouse.
Exterior Sprinklers
All of our sprinkler heads offer the following features:- Heavy duty brass construction
- Extra large body & barrel
- Stainless steel springs & fulcrum pin
- Dual nozzle ports
- Low angle to fight strong wind conditions
- Corrosion resistant
- Built to last
WadeRain WR-33 Impact Sprinkler Head
 #ASPWR33 |
Agricultural grade impact sprinkler head. Brass. 3/4" MIPT. With 1/4" range & 1/8" spreader nozzles. Full-circle coverage. Provides approx. 17 gpm @ 60 psi with 110 ft. diameter. WadeRain model WR-33 |
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| Low-Flow Nozzle Kit Consists of 5/32" range nozzle and spreader plug. Can be mixed & matched with nozzles provided with WR-33 head to achieve lower sprinkler flow rate. |
Fascia Mounting Bracket
Designed primarily for attachment to a vertical surface such as a roof fascia, to support 1 sprinkler head. Bracket backplate is 8" by 5" by 3/16" aluminum plate welded to 3/4" NPT threaded tube on a 1.25"
offset. Mounting plate has 4 pre-drilled holes. Additional mounting holes can be easily be field drilled for precise placement. Bracket plate can be trimmed for custom fit.
Note: "Bracket only" does not include brass fittings.
Fascia Mount Sprinkler Assembly
This sprinkler assembly is ready for attachment to a vertical surface such as the fascia of a building. It consists of an agricultural grade (WadeRain) impact sprinkler and the fascia bracket shown above. Included are a brass coupling for sprinkler attachment and a brass swivel garden hose coupling for attaching the supply hose.
With a pressure of 60 psi, performance of 66.6 litres per minute (17.6 gpm) can be anticipated with a 33.5 m (110') full-circle coverage.
Plan to use high quality 3/4" or better hose to handle the higher flows and operational pressures involved. Any of the GHT coupled hoses on our website are suitable for sprinkler supply purposes.
Horizontal Base Sprinkler
This product was originally designed to be placed on top of log decks to prevent logs from drying and checking in the summer sun. Additional uses include rooftop sprinkler applications as well as for area wetting for irrigation and/or fire prevention. Available in the configurations shown — as the base only ... or with an agricultural grade sprinkler head. A 12" x ¾" NPT removable riser is included that can be field substituted with other lengths.
The base is 3/16" steel plate measuring 6" x 6" with mounting holes drilled in each of the 4 corners. The horizontal waterway is 1½" NPT in & out with forestry quick connect (FQC) fittings installed. The vertical riser pipe is 3/4" x 12" NPT and is supported by a bracket 9" above the base plate. This riser pipe is removable and could be extended or replaced to create a higher water delivery point.
The base unit is all welded steel and painted industrial grey. Dimensions without sprinkler head: 6" x 6" x 17" high as supplied. Weight is 7.2 lb. There is no flow control, but a 3/4" ball valve could be field installed on the riser pipe if desired.
Typically the unit is mounted on a horizontal surface. It can be attached directly to some fixed surface or mounted on a base such as a plywood slab that would allow it to be portable or free-standing. Sand bags or other weights can be used to increase stability. For placement on a sloped surface such as a roof, a sub-base of wood could be constructed to compensate for the slope, or sand bags can be used to achieve that objective.
Railway Sprinkler Mount
Actually, this is a water thief with an integrated sprinkler head. It was originally designed for fire protection of wooden railway bridges. With a height of under 7½", it can be seasonally secured to the ties between the rails without interference from passing rolling stock. When needed, attach fire hoses to the sprinklers to wet the area.The base plate is 3/16" steel measuring 8" x 10" with 4 pre-drilled 3/8" mounting holes. Water flow is unobstructed through the 1½" waterway to subsequent uses down the line — connections are forestry quick connect (FQC). The port to the sprinkler is 3/4" NPT. There is no flow control.
The mount is of sturdy steel construction painted industrial grey. Weight is 9.2 lb. with WadeRain WR-33 sprinkler installed. For horizontal placement only.
Hydro-Wick Spike Sprinkler
The Hydro-Wick heavy duty sprinkler is designed for use with standard forestry fire pumps. A high performance model with applications including prescribed burns, exterior building protection, and fire line protection. Also works well for landscape watering and general cooling on a hot summer day. Supplied with splitter type nozzle and 2 extra nozzles of different sizes. Has spike support with mounting holes providing for a variety of placement options. Female GHT fitting is standard allowing connection to garden hose style coupling. Full-circle coverage. This is the workhorse for wildland fire crews.
| Specifications | |
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| Bearing: ¾" brass Trajectory angle: 27 degrees Operating Range: 25-80 psi |
Flow Rate: 4.2-23 gpm Coverage Radius: 44-71 ft. Coupling: ¾" female GHT |
Connect to your portable fire pump using a waterthief and the ¾" patrol hose or the premium sprinkler hose below.
Squall Wall
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The Scotty 4056 is an easy to use device that creates a thin wall of water to help cool and protect structures, fuel supplies, etc. The user simply attaches the Squall Wall to a fire hose, secures the fitting to the ground on the up-wind side, and starts the flow of water.
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