Why You Should Install a Sprinkler System During Construction

If you're planning to build a new home, you should do everything possible to protect your investment and incorporate certain systems that will activate whenever a fire is detected. These systems may not save your property in the event of a raging bushfire, but this type of conflagration is a relatively rare event. What type of system should you build into your new property so that you can sleep a little easier at night?

Installation Options

In an ideal world, you would plumb your new fire sprinkler system using water that is separate from the mains supply You can also choose to have a backup system that draws water from a well or from a rainwater tank. Either way, you should always have a plentiful supply of liquid to douse any emerging blaze.

Some people will choose to install this system as a stand-alone solution, fed by the mains water supply before said supply is plumbed into the rest of the property. It's a good idea to have a booster pump linked to a dedicated storage tank. This can be activated by a pressure switch.

Configuration

The well or rainwater tank can also fill the storage tank if needed, based on a float valve. This should be linked to a booster pump to ensure adequate pressure. Care should be taken to ensure that the pump is on the same electrical circuit as an everyday appliance for monitoring purposes. It should, in any case, be tested on a monthly basis to recycle the pump and reset if necessary.

Cycling the Water

Some people choose to have a further valve in place that can divert water from this dedicated storage tank for external irrigation use. This would ensure that the water does not simply sit there forever awaiting the outbreak of a fire. It's also a good way of recycling the water. Once the water has been diverted for irrigation, the tank will refill up to the float valve level.

Planning for Installation

While an existing home can be retrofitted with this type of sprinkler system, it's much easier to put it in at the initial construction phase. Consequently, talk with your builder before they get down to work so that they can help you add this important safety measure. You may never get to use it, but it will always add to the value of your home if you put the property on the market.

Contact a residential building construction service near you for more information.