Did you know that gutters don’t just help drain water on your roofs but can also act as another line of bushfire defence?

In this post, we talk about your gutter systems when combined with a sprinkler system can help protect not only your roof but your home as well.

Why install a sprinkler system?

As many say, what happens during the first 10 minutes of a fire usually determines the outcome.These automated sprinkler systems can help fight embers and extinguish embers that might land on the roof or other parts of the building and help deflect a fire from catching on before it starts.

They can be turned on when they detect a nearby fire or manually turned on if you just want for a specific time to cool down your roof.

Designing your sprinkler system

To operate effectively, a sprinkler system needs to have an appropriate, adequate water supply, an activation mechanism and a delivery system including pipes and heads that will discharge water at appropriate densities. The delivery system includes the pump, pipework and spray heads.

With a gutter sprinkler system, one size does not fit all as it it needs to be designed based on the intensity of a bushfire that could impact your home. The number and type of sprinkler heads used and the volume of water required are all factors that need to be considered. For example, a property surrounded by grazing paddocks and large pieces of land will need to focus on ember protection, whereas a property within close proximity to bush areas needs a bushfire sprinkler system to offer protection from both embers and radiant heat.

Other factors include the density of vegetation near your home, the type of plants, the slope of your roof and the materials the home is made of.

Tip: During a bushfire, many homes lose water pressure and power, it’s important that a bushfire sprinkler system uses an independent water source, just like a swimming pool or a water tank would do so, and uses it’s own dedicated petrol or diesel powered pump.

What can sprinklers on your roof do?

• They can be used to thoroughly wet down an area. This results in combustibles (building and landscape) being much less likely to ignite due to flying embers or intense heat.

• The soaked roof releases moisture into the air. This lowers the ambient temperature and increases the humidity level of the immediate area. Increased humidity and reduced temperatures make the microclimate less conducive to fire.

• They don’t just offer fire protection but can also assist in keeping your landscape green and lush.

• On a hot day, they can even provide natural cooling - no need for air conditioning system.