News on fire services and fire safety is provided in the following sections:
- Water savings projects
- Connecting to town mains
- Fire safe buildings don’t need to be water wasters
- Contractors undertaking plumbing works in fire services are to be registered
- Bushfire Bunkers
- Water conservation case studies
- Fire Australia Conference 2009
Integrated Fires Services have saved 30.6 million litres per year for their customers as of June 2010 (this represents an average saving of 62% of the water being consumed in sprinkler pump boosted systems).
Integrated Fire Services has adjusted 28 fire sprinkler pumps over the last 15 months to save an average of 1.1 million litres p.a. per site. This has been achieved by reducing the flowrate through pressure relief valves using a simple and systematic method.
Clients can engage us to significantly reduce water usage and may even have the work sponsored by their water retailer. Refer to South East Water for more information on obtaining sponsorship.
If you wish to have an assessment undertaken on your sprinkler system please call Ramez Togany on 03 9870 1317 Ext 3.
If you wish to know more about water conservation refer to Information Operational Readiness
METERING OF FIRE SERVICES
Water retailers that require new connections to the town main to be metered include:
• South East Water
• City West Water
• Yarra Valley
Conditions of connection are summarised for the following:
HYDRANT SYSTEMS
Hydrant systems are required to be provided with a “Water Business” single check detector valve (SCDV) with a 25 mm by pass water meter installed.
HOSE REEL SERVICE
Hose Reel Services only, must be metered and are generally supplied via the main metered water service to the property.
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
Residential / Home Fire Sprinkler Services designed under the AS2118.4 or AS2118.5 which is only required to be tested annually and not required to be metered.
Where fire systems are designed and installed to AS2118.1 magnetic flow meters will be required and supplied by the relevant Water Business.
Where a hydrant and fire sprinkler service is proposed a Magnetic Flow Meter is to be installed to register all fire service water.
OTHER CONDITIONS OF CONNECTION
The fire system design is to incorporate all necessary features called for in AS1851:2005 Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment and or subsequent versions of AS1851 or equivalent to allow monthly testing of the Fire Sprinkler System.
Where booster pumps are required, the system is to incorporate recirculating equipment such as storage tanks or other methods to reduce or eliminate the waste of test water. A minimum of 80 percent of test water must be recirculated.
The metering of fire services with in-line meters requires approval from the applicable fire authority.
Water Business may grant approval for reticulated Class A Recycled Water to be used for fire fighting purposes, subject specific conditions and availability of supply.
Where the fire service connected to the drinking water supply system is above 50mm the water supply for general purposes is to be connected off the fire service prior to the fire service meter and separately metered.
It is recommend that the fire service valve external to their property be checked and operated on a yearly basis.
A factory refurbishment at Phillip Morris was a chance to increase fire protection while at the same time saving millions of litres of precious water. Integrated Fire Services undertook the innovative project to redesign the fire sprinkler system at the Phillip Morris factory using state-of–the-art water saving technology. Water usage was reduced from 1.25 million litres a year to 130 000 litres – a saving of 90%. A massive saving of 28 million litres will be achieved over the life of the building. This recent project by IFS has shown that fire safety and water saving can go hand in hand, and is helping look after Victoria’s water future.
Plumbers working in fire services and on
- sprinkler systems
- hydrants and or hose reels
- fire pumps
- and other fire services works
Shall be registered with the Plumbing Industry Commission as a plumber in fire services.
Contractors supplying fire service plumbing works (any pipework) shall provide a Plumbing Certificate at the completion of the work. A licensed plumber is only able to provide the certificate. Registered plumbers can not issue certificates and must work under the supervision of a licensed plumber.
This legislation comes into effect on 23 November 2009.
For more information refer to the following website:
http://www.pic.vic.gov.au/www/html/7-home-page.asp
There has been some discussion in the media as to whether people in fire affected areas should build bunkers to protect themselves from bushfires. Click here for a Community Information Sheet prepared by the Victorian Building Commission to explain the current situation.
For information on a number of other bushfire-related topics, available on the Building Commission website, click here.
The Fire Sprinkler Water Conservation Project, led by the Victorian Plumbing Industry Commission, carried out a series of case studies and 15 month study to investigate methods for reducing the amount of water consumed through periodic maintenance and alteration of fire sprinkler systems. The case studies included high-rise offices and hotels, shopping centres, factories and a hospital, and are now available to download.
http://www.pic.vic.gov.au/www/html/444-case-studies.asp
Integrated Fire Services as the techncial consultants provided the research for this project.
Paul Verheijden attended the Fire Australia 2009 conference in Hobart where "Fire Protection - The Great Debate" was the theme. Topics covered were:
- Bushfire response (stay or go early)
- Building code prescription or alternative solutions
- Passive verses active fire protection
Lively discussion over these subjects showed that professionals need to provide diligence and engage all stakeholders when dealing with these subjects.
For further information go the attached website: FPA Australia