With building regulations becoming ever-more stringent regarding fire safety, both in domestic and commercial dwellings, fire protection systems have become a hot topic. Forming part of the fabric of a building and vital in maintaining a means of escape, it is imperative that these systems are manufactured, installed and maintained to the very highest standards

Geberit Mapress is the first pressfitting pipework system to gain official approval from the LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) for use on all fire protection systems including wet and dry sprinkler systems, pre-action systems, low pressure water spray and mist systems, foam water sprinkler systems, deluge systems, hydrant systems and extinguishing water pipes.

The accreditation, which applies to Geberit’s innovative Mapress Stainless Steel and Carbon Steel, covers all dimensions of Geberit Mapress piping up to 108mm, making it the natural choice for all types of fire safety installations.

With all pipework connections pressed on to the pipe by using just a press-fitting tool, this method can be used on a wide range of applications and offers a practical, durable and reliable alternative to traditional pipe jointing methods. Installation is fast while safety is assured due to the innovative pressing indicator, which reveals visible leak paths to enable unpressed joints to be detected and fixed before the pressure test.

Regular maintenance of these systems is of course key, but it is not until the worst case scenario of the fire breaking out and the system being called into action that you can really be assured that it is in full working order.

One key factor that risks the reliability of these systems is corrosion of the pipework, which if not maintained can cause the entire system to fail.

The best way to avoid this is to specify a fire protection system made with corrosion resistant materials. Offering a high resistance to corrosion, stainless steel pipework is a particularly suitable material, as is zinc plated carbon steel, both of which are offered in  Geberit’s Mapress range.

Always choose a fire protection system that carries the LPCB certification mark, such as that from Geberit so that you can be assured that the system has undergone the appropriate tests during manufacture, that it is made from corrosion resistant materials and that it won’t compromise anyone’s safety if and when it should be called upon.