Roof Sprinkler Cooling System
Ember s guard roof sprinkler system is the one of the most effective efficient tool to protect property from wildfire ember attack.
Roof sprinkler cooling system. Also called an evaporative cooling system a roof misting system lowers surface temperatures by spraying an extremely small amount of water across the roof allowing the water to cool the roof as it evaporates. The microclimate is the area right around where the sprinklers are located. As the water evaporates it cools the roof and helps to lower the temperature of the roof tiles and the ceiling cavity beneath it. The water evaporates and cools the surface.
When rooftop sprinklers are activated they spray water high up in the air which lands on the roof trees and other surfaces that are within range. A rooftop sprinkler system ember s guard is adapted to protect homes from falling embers in the case of a wildfire or bushfire. This effect creates an effect equivalent of r 7 roof insulation during the day. Local fire agencies agree that the only time a sprinkler system on the roof may be advisable is if you have a combustible wood roof.
An evaporative roof cooling system is designed to reduce the temperature of a roof from 165 f to about 90 f. This soaking of the roof and landscape also releases moisture into the air lowering ambient temperatures and increasing humidity levels. They are simple and appear to be effective but would not be a good choice in areas where water is in short supply. Some of the water evaporates which increases the relative humidity while reducing temperatures in the microclimate.
1 gallon of water consumes 8000 btu as it evaporates. The roof saver sprinkler kit is an exterior fire prevention system designed to wet roofs gutters decks surrounding trees and shrubs making these fuels less susceptible to ignition. These types of systems can also be set up to operate automatically either on a timer or connected to an automatic temperature sensor which triggers the system whenever it gets too hot. Ember s guard roof sprinkler systems are a temporary fire suppression system they are not designed to put out a fire but help prevent ignition.
The principle is similar to the way the human body cools itself with perspiration. Heat is now transferred out of the building through the roof. Roof sprinklers work by spraying water at predetermined intervals on a roof s surface. One study indicates that water use is around 100 gallons per day per 1000 sqft of roof area.
These systems provide cooling by spraying water on the roof surface. Prepare your home and property for bush fires. Firesafe marin recommends that you replace any wood shake roof with a fire sesistant type a roof assembly but until that happens your house is the rare case a sprinkler might be helpful. Cooling with liquid water running off from a sprinkler is not efficient but evaporative cooling from a small amount of water like a periodic sprinkle is very efficient.
Here is a some information on two roof sprinkler systems. This cooling reverses the heat flow through the roof.