Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) systems arequick responding, high volume sprinkler systems that provide exception protection for high piled storage occupancies.Volume – Conventional sprinkler heads output rate – 25 to 30 gallons per minute.

ESFR systems are designed to suppress the fire by discharging a large volume of water directly to the fire to reduce the heat release rate. These systems, installed at the ceiling, use large volumes of water delivering large water droplets at a high velocity to knock down the fire plume and provide enhanced protection for High Piled Storage Occupancies.

Early Suppression Fast Response systems differ from conventional systems in three ways:

Speed – ESFR sprinkler heads sense a fire and begin spraying water quicker than standard response sprinkler heads.

Volume – Conventional sprinkler heads output rate – 25 to 30 gallons per minute. High output conventional sprinkler heads output rate – 60 gallons per minute. ESFR sprinkler heads output rate – 100 gallons per minute.

Droplet size – ESFR sprinkler heads release larger droplets of water with greater momentum than conventional heads. This combination of size and momentum allows the sprinkler droplet to penetrate a fire plume and reach the seat of a fire.

ESFR fire suppression systems can be used in warehouses with ceilings as high as 45 feet and storage heights of 40 feet. The installation and material costs of these systems are more economical than the costs of creating and installing an in-rack fire suppression system, often 30% to 50% less. Before making a decision about using an ESFR fire suppression system, the owner must consider the types of products being stored, the storage arrangement, the height and construction type of building, and the cost differentials of installing and maintaining the system over other types of systems.