Wall-wetting Sprinkler and Drencher Systems

The Building Code of Australia (BCA) refers to the installation of fire safety measures, including wall-wetting sprinkler and drencher systems, to prevent fire spread and protect occupants, respectively.

Clause C3.2 relates to protection of openings in fire-resisting components of a building. This provision ensures that fire can't spread through openings in walls, floors, or ceilings from one fire compartment to another, or from a fire compartment to a public corridor. In essence, this clause stipulates the installation of fire protection systems, such as wall-wetting sprinklers and drencher systems, around openings in fire-resistant structures to inhibit the spread of fire and minimise damage.

Wall-wetting sprinkler and drencher systems, under this clause, should be designed and installed in such a way that they provide a curtain of water over the protected opening when activated. They form a water barrier that prevents or slows down the fire's ability to advance through the opening, helping to confine the fire to its area of origin for as long as possible.

Drencher systems are a type of fire protection system designed to deliver a large volume of water over a specified area in the event of a fire. They're often used to protect openings, such as windows, in fire-rated walls, to prevent the spread of fire from one compartment of a building to another.

According to Clause C3.11, drencher systems should be installed in certain situations where there's a need to protect openings in a wall that separates fire compartments, or where a building's boundary is close to another building. It specifically applies to situations where there may be a high risk of fire spreading through direct flame contact, radiation, or convection.

They play a significant role in limiting the spread of fire and protecting the lives and property of those within these structures. To ensure these systems are operating optimally, they should be regularly inspected and maintained as part of the requirements in providing an AFSS.