ESFR vs. Standard Sprinklers. Which one is right for you?

As ESFR sprinklers become more commonly recommended and accepted in industry, there continue to be many questions as to what exactly are ESFR sprinklers and how do they differ from standard sprinklers. We will attempt to point out the practical differences while staying away from the more technical or design related aspects.

ESFR vs. Standard Sprinkler Systems

EARLY SUPPRESSION FAST RESPONSE (ESFR) sprinklers evolved from research programs conducted over the last 20 years. The ESFR sprinkler combines two improvements over ordinary sprinklers. First, the more efficient discharge pattern originally developed in large drop sprinklers was felt to be a big benefit. However, it was realized that a means to get the water on the fire quicker was needed. In other research, a fast response sprinkler had been developed for use in residential sprinkler systems, where getting water on the fire as quickly as possible to minimize both fire and smoke was needed. Researchers turned to work already done on the residential sprinkler to help in their quest for a new style of sprinkler that could be effective in high challenge fires in industrial applications. The result of this marriage of concepts and the subsequent improvement in the technologies resulted in the first ESFR sprinkler in the late 1980's. This revolutionary head was known as the EARLY SUPPRESSION FAST RESPONSE or ESFR head. The combined concept of extremely fast response to a fire, coupled with a strong water discharge using a larger droplet size, applied early in the fire, was found to lead to a design that could actually suppress rather than just controlling the fire. This concept was probably the biggest jump in the level of effectiveness of the sprinkler head in its over 100 year history.

The typical ESFR design uses only 12 sprinklers at pressures of 50 to 75 psi in its design. The larger orifice provided leads to more water on the fire quicker. At 50 psi, the standard ESFR head discharges approximately 100 gallons per minute. A 17/32 inch head commonly used in higher hazard designs in the past (versus a standard ½ in orifice head) would discharge only 56 gallons per minute. Almost twice the volume, delivered in half the time, with a larger droplet size, combine to make the most effective sprinkler head developed to date. The ESFR sprinkler has already begun to revolutionize the protection of many high challenge storage occupancies and the list of approved uses continues to grow as further testing is conducted. In many cases, there use can eliminate the use of in rack sprinklers in rack storage warehouses.

Along with the great success of this new sprinkler head there have been many growing pains. This head is very susceptible to obstructions from overhead steel, cross bracing and wind bracing, lighting fixtures, HVAC systems and ductwork, etc. Extreme care must be taken during the design and installation phase to assure you will end up with an effective system. They must only be used where they have been tested and proven effective. This is where Matrix Risk Consultants can help. We can advise you when and where they can be used; provide general specifications to your bidding contractors; and help in making sure the plans are properly prepared and the field installation is properly completed. If you have questions, please call us at 937-886-0000 or email us at Matrix@MatrixRC.com for more information.