Fire Hydrant System
Water and fire fighting will always be together. Globally, water is our most plentiful resource. It is inexpensive. When public water systems are present, it is available in an almost endless supply. When applied properly, it is very effective in absorbing heat and extinguishing fires. For these reasons, fire services throughout the world base their primary operations upon utilizing water as a fire extinguishing agent.
Water and fire hydrant systems involve substantial capital expense, however they typically last between 70 and 100 years. A properly designed and installed system is a long term investment in community safety and should be undertaken utilizing long term planning and appropriate engineering standards.
The purpose of this information sheet is not to design water and hydrant systems, but rather to present information and raise issues that should be considered by water system planners and designers, especially in small communities or third world countries where relevant fire codes and standards have not been adopted.

Sprinkler System
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected. Although historically only used in factories and large commercial buildings, systems for homes and small buildings are now available at a cost -effective price. Fire sprinkler systems are extensively used worldwide, with over 40 million sprinkler heads fitted each year. In buildings completely protected by fire sprinkler systems, over 99% of fires were controlled by fire sprinklers alone.