Personal protection watermist systems in the homes of vulnerable people
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
In November 2015, London Fire Brigade and BRE published Personal Protection Systems (PPS), Guidance on the use, deployment and limitations of Personal Protection Watermist Systems in the homes of vulnerable people.
Vulnerable people and the elderly are at greater risk from fire in the home, in particular if they live on their own. This can be because of their lifestyle and mental capacity, and because their physical and/or mental health impairments mean they may be unable to easily escape without assistance.
The report provides guidance for assessing and identifying people whose level of fire risk warrants additional measures such as a Personal Protection System (PPS).
A Personal Protection System is an automatic fire suppression device, designed specifically for a domestic environment. It activates over a bed or chair that is the seat of a fire, protecting individuals who may be unable to escape without assistance. PPS systems have also been used as risk reduction measures in other types of applications, for example where a home is at risk from an arson attack.
PPS units are portable risk reduction measures, that can be quickly installed, moved or re-used. A typical PPS is self-contained and consists of a water container connected to an open watermist nozzle. An internal control panel automatically activates the system when a fire is detected causing watermist to be sprayed from the nozzle onto the risk area. Because PPS are designed to activate at an earlier stage of fire development than traditional sprinkler systems, they have a faster response to a fire and this can help to prevent significant heat and smoke development.
The guidance includes tools for identifying likely candidates for a PPS. A typical risk profile would be a person who, because of mental and/or physical health issues, spends the majority of their time in a bed or chair and who would be unable to easily escape in the event of a fire. A vulnerable person who is mobile and so has the potential to be affected by a fire anywhere in their home would usually require a suppression system that covers all risk areas
Having identified that an individual is vulnerable from fire it is necessary to carry out a specific assessment of the level of risk and the benefits of a range of potential control measures. This step will often follow a more general risk assessment carried out by a care or housing provider or a home fire safety check carried out by the fire and rescue service.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Carbon monoxide detector.
- Changing lifestyles.
- False alarms.
- Fire and rescue service.
- Fire and rescue service.
- Fire dampers.
- Fire detection and alarm system.
- Fire detector.
- Fire protection engineering.
- Fire safety design.
- Homes and ageing in England.
- Inclusive design.
- Older people.
- People with disabilities.
- Smoke detector.
- Visual alarm devices for fire: An introduction and guide to BS EN 54-23.
- Watermist systems for fire protection in domestic and residential buildings DG 534.
Featured articles and news
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.