CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskSprinklers, mist systems and suppressants -- when they are required and how to maintain them.
Since 2016, Welsh regulations require all new care homes to be fitted with automatic fire suppression systems (AFSS). England and Scotland have no equivalent blanket requirement for existing buildings, but new builds and some change-of-use applications increasingly require them via planning conditions or building regulations. The National Fire Chiefs Council recommends retrofitting AFSS in all existing care homes.
Wet-pipe sprinkler systems (BS EN 12845) are the most common AFSS in UK care homes. Each sprinkler head activates individually at around 68-74C, suppressing the fire at source. Modern care home installations are designed to minimise accidental activation. Maintenance requires a quarterly visual inspection and annual service by a competent contractor.
Water mist systems (BS 8458 or BS 8489) use fine droplets that suppress fire with significantly less water than conventional sprinklers -- reducing the risk of water damage to rooms, equipment and residents. They are increasingly specified for care home retrofits where the water supply pressure or storage is insufficient for a conventional sprinkler system.
AFSS must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's specification and the relevant British Standard. Maintenance records must be kept on-site. The responsible person must be informed immediately of any fault, and a fire watch must be considered while any part of the system is out of service.
CareHomeDesk gives you compliance checklists, maintenance logs, and contractor management tools built around exactly this kind of knowledge.