External Water Spray SYstems
Wet material doesn't burn easily!
An External Water Spray (EWS) or Wind-Enabled Ember Dousing System (WEEDS) are bushfire protection systems that uses purpose designed water sprinklers or high-pressure water spray nozzles, to create a protective water barrier around a structure, dousing embers and wetted surfaces to prevent ignition during high-wind wildfire events.
- Wind Resistance: The nozzles are directed outward and are designed to function under windy conditions, using the wind to help disperse the water onto the structures surface.
- Water Coverage: The spray coverage is designed to wet down the structure's roof and other critical surfaces, creating a shield against wind-driven embers and radiant heat.
- Embers: The system is specifically designed to combat ember ignition, with testing showing it creates a sufficient density of water to douse firebrands that can travel long distances in the wind.
Why it Works
- Fire required Oxygen, Heat and Fuel to sustain itself, remove one of these and the fire is extinguished.
- A bushfire travels quickly because the wind pushes the heat and fire brands ahead of it, preheating any material for faster ignition. Applying water an area will significantly slow the advance of a fire front.
- Airbourne water droplets will help extinguish fire brands, stopping spot fires igniting and significantly slowing the advance of a bushfire.
- Wetting the foliage and ground cover will increase the vegetations fire resistance, making it harder to ignite.
- Wetting a structures surfaces helps to extinguish hot embers before they can heat up and ignite.
How it Works
- Water is supplied to the sprinklers by a pump fed by from a Static Water Source. The pump can be fuel or electric driven and may be remote start or manual start.
- The sprays are strategically positioned around the perimeter of the structures and the landscape to target flying embers before they can reach combustible materials.
- A well designed system can deliver a water efficient system that utilises your resources to provide a barrier of water between the fire front and your property.
- Large water droplets are effected less by high winds that accompany a Bushfire. The Rainmaker Drencher Heads are specifically designed for this.
Which Type of Spray System
Your level of protection should be related to your Bushfire Attack Level Number, we have listed our minimum equipment recommendations in the About Spray Systems Folder.
We recommend having a multi layered spray system,
- Outer Zone which uses Soakers (Impacts) to wet a large area and increase the humidity of your property in a high fire danger period.
- Inner Zone which uses Drencher Heads or Nozzles to throw up a shield of water around your home as the fire front approaches.
- Flame Zone which uses window and wall drenchers to throw water directly onto your homes surfaces when the front arrives.
All our spray heads have been designed with this strategy in mind.
Portable Systems
Easy to Use
Easy to Maintain
Easy to Maintain
Setting up a Rainmaker Portable Sprinkler is very similar to a garden sprinkler. Decide where you want it to go, connect it to a water source, then turn it on.
Easy to Maintain
Easy to Maintain
Easy to Maintain
The ability to take your sprinklers down from the gutter allows for easier maintenance if things go wrong, and packing them away at the end of the fire season prompts regular maintenance.
Cost effective
Easy to Maintain
Cost effective
Compared to a fixed system the Rainmakers are very cost effective. DIY install and the ability to add to the system in the future, makes for a robust, adaptable alternative to professional installation.
Portable System Examples
Basic Connection
Connect 2 Aussie Drencher or 1 Soaker to each garden tap, hang off the gutter and turn it on.
Advanced Hoses
Connecting a system of sprinklers to your water source can be confusing, we have attempted to clear it up with DIY Guides. Please bear with us as it is an ongoing process..
Need Some Help
Need Some Help
We can help, contact us and for a fee we will recommend to you a customise plan for you system.
Important Information Fixed Systems
Arm Positioning
Isolate the copper from the Roofing Material
Angle of Install
The arm positions are critical to the sprinklers performance. The head needs to rotate clockwise to or a failure will occur as the spindle will undo from the head. We could have used lock-tight on the thread but then you could not dismantle the head during maintenance.
Angle of Install
Isolate the copper from the Roofing Material
Angle of Install
The head will rotate at any angle, we recommend running the tube at the first row of roofing screws above the gutter and setting the heads at 45 degrees. Running the tube on the facia under the gutter and having the heads vertical is another option.
Isolate the copper from the Roofing Material
Isolate the copper from the Roofing Material
Isolate the copper from the Roofing Material
We recommend using an isolator to mount your copper tube, this will reduce galvanic corrosion.
We have Clic isolators in our store for this purpose.