A NSW South Coast home has used a Calair system to provide fire protection.
The house sits on top of a forested west-facing slope, and although it had established ‘asset protection zones’ around the house by reducing the density of trees, the occupants did not want to clear the forest environment. The Calair protection system automatically drenches danger areas of house exteriors when life and property are under threat and is available throughout Australia (except in the Northern Territory).
The owner ensured the house itself was designed to be relatively fire resistant and installed the Calair Fire-Pro system to provide an extra level of protection. Activated by low-voltage heat detectors as temperatures rise to danger levels, the Calair Pipe Systems Fire-Pro EWSS (External Water Spray System) was installed at the 310 sqm residence by South Coast Builder Mark Green of M and J Green Builders.
All of the system’s major components are located within the roof space and has been designed for unobtrusive built-in installation for protection. Low-profile Roof Mist (RMI) and Eave Drencher (EDI) spray nozzles — designed for weather tight installation — merge with eaves and rooflines to provide blanket coverage of external areas posing greatest risk. The RM1 nozzles protect against flying embers on roofs and gutters while ED1 nozzles protect windows and doors.
The system draws water from either swimming pools or dedicated tanks and comes complete with pipe and pipe fittings, hose assemblies, spray nozzles, valves, heat detectors and pumping equipment from Davey Pumps. Calair spray nozzle designs provide optimum droplet size at minimum flow and pressure to avoid early depletion of water supplies. The system automatically shuts down when temperatures drop below danger level.
The system’s easily installed piping is made from an advanced polymer containing flame retardants and is eight times lighter than traditional galvanised steel piping, will not corrode either internally or externally and does not require specialist labour or welding. The system is installed from within the roof cavity.
