Why a Functional Fire Ring Main is Crucial for Fire Safety

Often components of a fire protection system are like the backstage crew at big concerts: not the stars of the show, but pivotal for ensuring safety and minimising the chance of disaster. A fire ring main is one such part of an efficient firefighting system. Keep reading to learn why.
What is a fire ring main?
First, what is a fire ring main? It’s a primary loop or network of pipes designed to ensure that there is adequate supply of water to hydrants.
Here are eight functions that illustrate how a fire ring main enhances firefighting efforts:
Ensure an Uninterrupted Supply of Water
A fire ring main has a looped system design, meaning that water can flow from multiple directions. In effect, this means that even if a section of the pipe network is damaged or obstructed, water can still reach all parts of the system through alternate routes.
Imagine, for example, a large warehouse or industrial facility with a fire ring main installed around the perimeter. Multiple buildings and fire hydrants are connected to the ring main.
One day, a section of the ring main is damaged during construction work, causing a leak. Despite this, the design of the fire ring main ensures water can still flow to hydrants or sprinklers in the affected area from the opposite direction.
Enhance firefighting efficiency
There are several ways a stable fire ring main enhances firefighting efficiency:
- Reliable water supply: A continuous water supply means no time is lost waiting for access to water due to infrastructure issues in the event of a fire
- Consistent water pressure: The benefits of a functional fire protection system include consistent water pressure, with a high enough rate of flow to combat fires effectively
- Rapid response and control: The comprehensive coverage of a ring design means that firefighters may quickly connect to the hydrant closest to an accident to respond quickly and effectively
For example, imagine a fire breaking out on the second floor of a warehouse facility in an awkward-to-access corner.
The fire ring main connected to the facility’s sprinkler system springs into action due to smoke detection, enabling the fire protection system to begin dousing the flames immediately, making extinguishing the risk more efficient.
Reduce response time
The network of water pipes in a functional system reduces response time by:
- Ensuring multiple access points: The wide distribution of water at preferred pressure ensures there are many points at which firefighters can access the water supply fast
- Enabling pre-planned response strategy: The extensive coverage a fire ring main makes possible allows for a thorough pre-planned response strategy that combines automated and human firefighting resources.
Imagine a fire breaking out overnight in a storage facility containing highly flammable materials. As soon as the fire is detected, sprinklers fed by the fire ring main activate. At the same time, the fire alarm system alerts fire safety officials, allowing rapid response.
Prevent fires from spreading
Another way a well-maintained fire ring main improves fire safety is by preventing fires from spreading.
The system enables automated and manual firefighting action at any point in the fire prevention network, so that it is easier to create a firebreak or suppress flames directly.
For example, say that in a large industrial complex, a fire breaks out in one of the manufacturing units due to a machinery malfunction.
Thanks to the fire ring main system, the connected sprinklers immediately activate, controlling the flames and preventing them from spreading to adjacent units filled with flammable materials and thus avoiding worse disaster.
Compliance and cost benefits
Compliance and cost benefits of effective fire ring mains include:
- Regulatory compliance: It is crucial to uphold fire and safety regulations as the costs of negligence (in both damage to property and fines resulting from failed inspections) are high
- Minimised damage and loss: The cost of maintaining a fire ring main system adequately will be far less than the cost of losing expensive or even irreplaceable equipment, machinery or stored goods
- Better asset protection: A sound fire protection system maintains the value of a facility and its contents by helping to avoid risk and loss. This also makes facilities more insurable
Minimising property damage
A properly maintained fire ring main helps to minimise property damage by making firefighting more efficient and reliable and allowing for faster response.
For example, in a large textile factory filled with valuable materials and equipment, a fire breaks out.
Due to the comprehensive network of water supply pipes, and the absence of any obstruction due to consistent maintenance, the fire is extinguished fast due to the combination of a robust sprinkler system and the fire department being able to access hydrants with the correct rate of flow fast.
Improve worker safety
Worker safety is another issue illustrating the importance of maintaining a fire ring main. If a system is highly obstructed in both directions, or the water pressure is too weak, this could pose a serious risk were a fire to break out.
For example picture an aging factory. The fire ring main has not been properly maintained, resulting in corroded pipes and blocked sprinkler heads.
During a small electrical fire, the compromised system fails to provide adequate water pressure, allowing the fire to spread rapidly. This failure endangers workers, who are forced to evacuate through smoke-filled corridors, increasing their risk of injury.
Reduce insurance costs
The higher risk your facilities are, the higher the cost of insurance. Insurance providers work hard to minimize the cost of claims, so if assessors were to find out that your facility has a poor maintenance schedule for your fire protection system, this wouldn’t count in your favour.
Consistent maintenance is thus wise not only for ensuring reliable water supply and firefighting efficiency, but also for maintaining lower insurance overheads.
Schedule maintenance for your fire ring main now
A well-maintained water pipe network will ensure that your fire protection system is ready to spring into action like a backstage crew when pyrotechnics go wrong (or shouldn’t happen at all). Contact ERF today to schedule an inspection and discuss a maintenance schedule.
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