Fire Sprinkler Technologies
The successful use of sprinkler applications in fire management goes back to at least to the late 1960s. They have been successfully used to protect structures from wildfires in Canada, United States, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. Up through the 1990s, experienced Canadian and US fire professionals as well as farm irrigation specialists identified the following problems affecting the reliability their sprinkler systems:
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Failure to start gasoline-powered, 2-cycle engines due to lack of proper training, poor fuel/oil mixture, fouled plugs, dirty fuel, and cavitation of suction line.
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Failure of gasoline supply in multiple-can series’ connections.
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Over pressurized supply line locking sprinkler head from oscillating.
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Debris fouling spring mechanism on sprinkler head on ground level installations.
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Small diameter of distribution line creates increased friction and PSI loss.
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Water velocity exceeds 5 feet per second.
In 2000, Wildfire Sprinkler developed the proprietary WSPS™ design that addresses all of these problems while providing effective, reliable, simple and affordable wildfire protection. Our material selection and system design take into account hydraulic flow properties, ease of installation and maintenance, reliability, and simplicity. We use as few components as possible with as few materials as possible. The 4-cycle pump engine runs on propane fuel and handles both volume and pressure. Our large diameter supply line allows for greater flows at reduced pressure loss. With smaller sprinkler heads capable of operating in the 30-80 PSI range, each head covers a circle of 80 feet. They are spaced 50 feet apart for effective saturation. The WSPS™ runs on flow rates should be 5 feet per second or less, and typically uses assorted nozzle sizes for customized installations.
During emergencies, WSPS is capable of delivering 50 or more gallons of water per minute for up to 24 hours. It typically covers a large area and protects all structures within a dome of moisture, effectively creating a microclimate.
Sprinkler Configurations
Our Wildfire Sprinkler™ Distribution System consists of a series of irrigation sprinkler heads installed at intervals circumferentially around the structure to be protected, so that 60% or more of the discharge circle overlaps each adjacent sprinkler’s discharge circle. The sprinkler heads are installed at a distance of ˝ the radius of the discharge circle from the exterior walls of the structure. Thus a 40 by 60 foot home would have 8 sprinklers surrounding it, connected to one another by a supply line in a closed loop. A main distribution line (main) feeds water-based fire suppression solution to the circumferential loop (loop) of sprinklers with a reducing irrigation tee, which assures that water-based solution flows in both directions and that pressure within the loop is balanced.
A branch distribution line is fed directly from the main or loop and supplies one or more roof mounted sprinklers, depending on roof construction, as well as a micro nozzle supply line with pressure regulator installed circumferentially on the eaves of the structure at the junction of the siding and soffit. The micro nozzles are placed at intervals assuring adequate coverage under the eaves of the structure. The main, loop and branch supply lines are constructed from materials appropriate to building codes and hydraulic requirements. The inside diameter of the supply lines are sized so that the water-based solution travels at a velocity of five feet per second or slower, which assures less friction loss in the system. Ideally the supply lines are buried under ground and built into the structure.
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