Attachment_5_-_FD_Preplan_and_Information_Flyer.pdf

INFORMATION FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ABOUT

RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLER SYSTEMS IN FEMA’S MANUFACTURED HOMES

Some of FEMA’s Manufactured Homes (MHU) are now equipped with residential fire sprinklers. This document is provided to help you understand the system in the event that you respond to a fire in one of the FEMA homes equipped with sprinklers.

The sprinkler systems have been designed and installed at the factory to exceed the requirements of NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes. The sprinkler system is a Life Safety system; it is designed to control the spread of a fire long enough to give the occupants of the home time to escape a fire.

The system may or may not extinguish a fire. In the event of a fire in the home, you may be called upon to complete extinguishment, perform overhaul, or shut down the sprinkler system.

Technically, the sprinkler system is a Standalone system as defined in NFPA 13D, the sprinklers are not connected to the domestic water system in any way. A dedicated tank and pump is provided with the home to supply water to the sprinkler system. Horizontal sidewall sprinklers are installed in every room, bathroom, and in the water heater closet. As permitted by NFPA 13D, sprinklers are not installed in the closets.

The system is designed to operate at outside temperatures as low as – 35°F, and will provide water to the sprinklers for 7 minutes as required by NFPA 13D.

Near the rear of the home is a small shed-like structure.

This structure is the Tank and Pump System and contains the pump, water tank, alarms and controls that supply water to the sprinkler system. One alarm activates when the pump starts running, indicating sprinkler water flow inside the home. The other alarm activates when maintenance is needed for the system.

This could be caused by low temperature or other problem within the structure.

In the event that alarms need to be silenced or the pump needs to be shut down, electric power to the system and pump can be shut off in one of two places:

• A power disconnect for the sprinkler system is mounted on the outside rear wall of the home (see photo at right). Simply cut the lock with a bolt cutter and turn the red switch to the OFF position.

This will shut off power to the system.

• The main electric panel in the home has a circuit breaker that provides power to the system.

Find the circuit breaker labeled SPRINKLER SYSTEM or similar and switch the breaker to the OFF position.

Maintenance and service on the sprinkler system is provided by FEMA Maintenance, 24 hours a day.

Technical questions about the residential sprinkler system can be addressed to the design engineer at the U.S. Fire Administration (301) 447-1361, 7 am to 4 pm, Eastern Time.

FEMA Maintenance:_______________________

Typical power disconnect on rear of FEMA home.

Typical circuit breaker panel inside FEMA home.