Fire alarms and sprinklers.

[aventino68]

Moving onto the boring but important stuff. What's everyone using for alarms and fighting fires in their workshop. I've seen one with a built in overhead sprinkler system that had to be manually activated but the workshop was part of an old factory.

 

[555]

I have a sprinkler system and a wired security alarm. It also has a very loud outdoor bell which alerts the neighbors. The entire subdivision is set up this way and we know it works very well as we recently had a garage/workshop fire at a nearby residence.

 

[matt_i]

I have plans and wired to the plans but no hardware yet. PLC based controller, Honeywell components from Amazon. I was going to use the 9vdc "output" from a standard interlinked hardwired smoke/heat detectors to make decisions. No plans for sprinkler heads. I did go with Type C drywall though. I have an Automation Direct CLICK PLC but then found a higher end lineup PLC that can send SMS text and so that was appealing but more expensive. Budget hasn't caught up to my freewheeling mind [nor will it likely ever lol]. Have a few Amerex fire extinguishers in various spots.

A wet or dry system sounds like a pain, I believe they are code in some parts of the US (thinking Scottsdale AZ was one???)

 

[reader2580]

The International Residential code requires sprinklers in all new houses. The IRC is only a model code and few jurisdictions adopt the IRC without modifications. It is unclear to me if the IRC sprinkler requirement would apply to a detached structure.

Many jurisdictions have not adopted the sprinkler requirement for single family homes. Minnesota only requires sprinklers for houses over 4,500 square feet and this rule may have been overturned in the courts.

It is still not a bad idea to look at a sprinkler system for a detached garage. I have no idea how I will handle fire detection in my garage. I'm not sure electrical code would allow running a wire from the house to the garage for wired alarms.

Do you really want everyone in the house panicking and running outside if the alarms in the house go off for a fire in a detached garage? My father has a wood shop in his house that is under the garage. When the lights are turned on the smoke detector is turned off. This stops alarms from a dull blade or whatever causing a little smoke.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Note that the original poster is in Canada, so US regulations may or may not be similar.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

One thing to keep in mind before taking on the expense of a fir sprinkler system, they are designed to save lives, not property. If you're looking to be able to put out a fire in your shop, some sort of an extinguishing agent is what you want. That's a whole different can of worms...

Tommy

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

I’m going to resurrect this thread… Has anyone installed fire sprinklers in their shop?

While I understand that they are mainly intended to buy time to escape a fire, I would have to think they would in many cases extinguish a fire or at least slow it to the point of saving a building. They probably won’t save your Rembrandt but in the case of a shop I’d think much of the contents would survive a partial fire.

With sprinklers being mandatory in new residential construction here for a number of years now I’d think the parts prices would be reasonable and it wouldn’t take much to plumb a few of these in at least where there’s a higher risk of fire like around the welding table.

 

[manwithtools]

Many places it's code to have sprinklers in attached garages, or in stand alone buildings over a certain square footage.

 

[sixty4]

What section in IRC and what year reader2580?

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

No one has installed fire sprinklers in their shop? I'd have thought it would be relatively cheap insurance where there is a possibility of fire starting after you leave the building.

 

[jhelrey]

Heck no! Would have to be a dry system with an air compressor, etc.

 

[nadogail]

In my limited experience I have seen more damage from the water out of the sprinklers than from any thing else. I am considering three hotels and one office building. All the sprinklers were activated by Human Error or Misconduct.

 

[Rc_Guy]

I’m going to resurrect this thread… Has anyone installed fire sprinklers in their shop?

While I understand that they are mainly intended to buy time to escape a fire, I would have to think they would in many cases extinguish a fire or at least slow it to the point of saving a building. They probably won’t save your Rembrandt but in the case of a shop I’d think much of the contents would survive a partial fire.

With sprinklers being mandatory in new residential construction here for a number of years now I’d think the parts prices would be reasonable and it wouldn’t take much to plumb a few of these in at least where there’s a higher risk of fire like around the welding table.

Don't know where you live but in Minnesota you can't just do it yourself, you have to be licensed by the state.

Heck no! Would have to be a dry system with an air compressor, etc.

Why would it have to be a dry system?

 

[Rc_Guy]

In my limited experience I have seen more damage from the water out of the sprinklers than from any thing else. I am considering three hotels and one office building. All the sprinklers were activated by Human Error or Misconduct.

Human error yes, a fire no.

 

[Jlbc212]

Don't know where you live but in Minnesota you can't just do it yourself, you have to be licensed by the state.

Why would it have to be a dry system?

A dry system is required in a building where temperatures may drop below freezing.

 

[Rc_Guy]

A dry system is required in a building where temperatures may drop below freezing.

Yeah, I know, it was my job for 25 years. As long as they keep it over 40° they can use a wet system. Any building can go below freezing.

 

[jhelrey]

In residential, I'd assume you'd want full coverage so heads in the attic and conditioned space. To save money, you'd stick with a dry system. You could run the plumbing inside the conditioned space and keep it wet but you'll see the plumbing, etc.

I've seen conditioned spaces in commercial freeze due to equipment mailfunctions, etc. Saving grace was shutting the system off before it blew. It would be one more thing to worry about at home when on vacation, etc. Remember the stretch of negative weather we had this past winter... I was checking 1st floor/main level ceiling temps daily because no building is that air tight.

 

[Rc_Guy]

In residential, I'd assume you'd want full coverage so heads in the attic and conditioned space. To save money, you'd stick with a dry system. You could run the plumbing inside the conditioned space and keep it wet but you'll see the plumbing, etc.

I've seen conditioned spaces in commercial freeze due to equipment mailfunctions, etc. Saving grace was shutting the system off before it blew. It would be one more thing to worry about at home when on vacation, etc. Remember the stretch of negative weather we had this past winter... I was checking 1st floor/main level ceiling temps daily because no building is that air tight.

You can run the pipe in the attic and insulate it enough, I wouldn’t want it that way in my house but I have installed it that way.

I don't know how you think a dry system would save money though.

 

[jhelrey]

Vs having two systems...

 

[A747]

I'm in the process of installing a sprinkler system in my 1000 ft sq detached garage here in San Diego County, Ca. This is not voluntary but required by building codes. So far I've spent around $3500 for the design plans the actual installation of PVC piping and heads. To meet the flow requirements per the design plan, I need to run approx 800 dedicated feet of 2" PVC piping from the main water line to my property to the garage. Once the line enters the garage, the line transitions to the 1" orange PCV fire line in the overhead. I've not installed the fire bell.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Thanks for the responses… Lots of food for thought.

I’m not required to have sprinklers in the shop here and really only considering them for the new addition where I will move all the cutting and welding equipment.

Accidentally setting off a sprinkler would be an inconvenience but wouldn’t cause significant damage, especially if I rig up drip hoods for valuable equipment. The walls are going to have hardiboard bottom plates for fire protection so water shouldn’t hurt them either

Flow will be whatever the 3/4 line from the house will deliver - I’m really just hoping to stop a small fire from leftover sparks if something ever flared up after I left - not trying to put out a kitchen fire.

Since it’s for my own entertainment and not for code compliance I’m also not concerned about installing myself but I will need to think about making it a dry system since the space may not always be heated.