sizing a DIY outdoor fire suppression system

Can anyone give recommendations on how one should be built?

Currently my plan is:

6000 liter water tank

5 outdoor low flow sprinklers on the eaves facing in.

Pulse them 5 mins on 5 mins off for 36 hours to keep the house walls wetted during a fire.

I have not yet done the numbers on power needs for a pump to run 5gal per minute at a 15ft head for 36 hrs.

Is there anything unreasonable in this?  Are there off the shelf components i should consider?

_______________________calculations__________
Available water: 6000 liters

Over 36 hrs is 166 liters per hour, 2.7 liters per minute / 5 sprinklers


Half a liter per minute...low flow sprinkler heads can do 1 liter per minute...best to pulse 5mins  on 5mins off

Daniel Andy wrote:
Half a liter per minute...low flow sprinkler heads can do 1 liter per minute...best to pulse 5mins  on 5mins off

Without putting thought into it all, if you can pulse each head separately, that'll keep your pressure higher in each use. Also would let you only do the ones you need, like "on this side of the house needs more, that side is okay."

Pearl Sutton wrote:

Daniel Andy wrote:
Half a liter per minute...low flow sprinkler heads can do 1 liter per minute...best to pulse 5mins  on 5mins off

Without putting thought into it all, if you can pulse each head separately, that'll keep your pressure higher in each use. Also would let you only do the ones you need, like "on this side of the house needs more, that side is okay."

Excellent idea but im not sure intelligent sprinklers or separate lines to each one with an intelligent 5 way valve are in the budget for time or money on this.

Can you link any examples of hardware like that?  It would have to be $150 plus each right? For the smart sprinklers they would also need power to each

Daniel Andy wrote:
Excellent idea but im not sure intelligent sprinklers or separate lines to each one with an intelligent 5 way valve are in the budget for time or money on this.

Do they have to be intelligent? Manual valves on each side of the house etc would let you adjust if you had to. So you could turn off or on an area that comes on when you cycle.  

Not sure how close fire has to get to damage intelligent systems...

In Australia, I have used system in fire situations as detailed below.
Note, here ember attach can continue for 12 hours after the fire front has passed.
Radiant heat is also a serious issue and water spray is probably the only way to deal with that.
Petrol pumps need a water cooled shed to prevent fuel evaporation and a diesel pump is best.
We had 20,000L tanks and they were filled once by the fore department going past once in the 12 hours.
We saved 3 house next to each other.

John can you share any specifics of the sprinkler or valve makes and models you used?

Pearl Sutton wrote:

Daniel Andy wrote:
Excellent idea but im not sure intelligent sprinklers or separate lines to each one with an intelligent 5 way valve are in the budget for time or money on this.

Do they have to be intelligent? Manual valves on each side of the house etc would let you adjust if you had to. So you could turn off or on an area that comes on when you cycle.  

Not sure how close fire has to get to damage intelligent systems...

I see!  I am assuming the house will be under mandatory evacuation at the time. Im close enough to a town that local police do come enforce evacuations during major fires. So i need something i can turn on as i walk out the door and trust to keep the house standing.

Your idea of an intelligent 5 way valve is growing on me a lot though!  The extra complexities mean that i could have a much smaller pump to only run one of the 5 sprinklers at a time.  The energy budget to run the pump will be a significant part of the system cost so its a promising way to cut that energy use to 1/4 of what i thought it would be. Im also finding out that intelligent hose splitters are relatively cheap.

So this is turning out to be a really promising option.

Can anyone suggest a quality make or model for sprinklers or irrigation splitters?

I like the main idea. However, Is a gravity fed tank not possible? I would avoid relying on anything that could burn, melt, fail mechanically or require refueling if possible. I would also try to wet any decks or other burnable structures near the house. Decks are behind only roof, eaves and attics as fire vectors. I am also looking for old wool rugs or the like to have rolled up above my attached-garage door and attached carport openings, with a soaker hose at the top, with a similar timer setup. I would unroll and set timers upon evacuation.

Daniel, I place information on a fcebook site
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555417315746
Where are you located?
In Victoria where I live, there is encouragement to leave but not compultion.
Being on the ground with goggles, woollen clothing arms and legs covered and a hat to stop embers going down you back.
Also decent footware, not sandals are important..
even a bath to lie in and soak your clothing for a few seconds when needed.

Ben Zumeta wrote:I like the main idea. However, Is a gravity fed tank not possible? I would avoid relying on anything that could burn, melt, fail mechanically or require refueling if possible. I would also try to wet any decks or other burnable structures near the house. Decks are behind only roof, eaves and attics as fire vectors. I am also looking for old wool rugs or the like to have rolled up above my attached-garage door and attached carport openings, with a soaker hose at the top, with a similar timer setup. I would unroll and set timers upon evacuation.

Thanks ben, good thoughts. I agree the deck will be a key item.