Standards New Zealand has just published the revised Fire sprinkler systems for houses Standard, NZS 4517:2010. This Standard provides guidance for the design, installation, testing, and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems for houses, to protect occupants and property, and to save lives. The 2010 edition of NZS 4517 will:
- ensure that a properly designed fire sprinkler system provides the building occupants time to safely evacuate in the event of a fire
- help designers to select a sprinkler system that will be able to cope with the fire load of the building for which it was designed, reducing the likelihood of system failure.
The New Zealand Fire Service and the Fire Protection Association of New Zealand sponsored the revision of NZS 4517.
'NZS 4517:2010 incorporates product developments and practical experience in the use of fire sprinkler in houses,' says committee Chair Brian Davey, representing the Institution of Fire Engineers. 'NZS 4517:2010 provides provide up-to-date and technically sound house fire sprinkler system design and installation solutions, which align with international Standards.'
NZS 4517:2010 recognises that the primary purpose of sprinkler systems is to control a fire so that survivable conditions are maintained long enough for the safe evacuation of the occupants. Adding smoke alarms and preparing home escape plans will further enhance life safety.
Systems conforming to the specified minimum requirements for the design, material, manufacture, and installation of fire sprinkler systems for domestic occupancies in NZS 4517:2010 will provide improved protection of domestic occupancies and contribute to the prevention of loss of life in these buildings.
The revised and improved NZS 4517:2010:
- clearly identifies the type of risk that this Standard can protect against
- emphasises its application to domestic occupancies only and clarifies the types of buildings that are not within the scope of the Standard
- Some houses will be more appropriately protected by applying the provisions of Fire sprinkler systems for life safety in sleeping occupancies (up to 2000 m2) NZS 4515:2009. A 'sleeping occupancy' includes care institutions, guest accommodation, apartment buildings, hospital wards, and supervised accommodation homes. A 'sleeping occupancy' could also include self-care units in, for example, prisons or other institutions
- NZS 4517:2010 does not apply to buildings such as multi-storey apartments, marae, motels, and churches. For these types of buildings please refer to NZS 4515:2009 or Automatic fire sprinkler systems NZS 4541:2007, which covers systems for offices and commercial buildings.
- addresses design and installation issues that have been identified since publication of the Standard in 2002
- includes any formal fire interpretations relating to NZS 4517 since it was last amended in 2003
- includes informative appendices including a helpful final inspection checklist for home owners and territorial authorities
- has new commentary about the application of the Standard and testing and maintenance to ensure reliability of the system.
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