From BSI: BS EN 12845(2004) sets out the minimum requirements for the design, installation and maintenance of fixed fire sprinklers in buildings and industrial plants. These best-practice recommendations also apply to any addition, extension, repair or modification to built-in fire extinguishers. BS EN 12845 looks at the classification systems of hazards, the provision of water supply, and the components that are used in the installation, performance testing, maintenance and the extension of existing systems. It also identifies the construction details of buildings. A necessary investment perhaps?

A lot would depend on what you intend to do with the knowledge. If you want to be able to sign off on sprinkler drawings for life and pproperty protection systems then I'd advise getting a specialist to do it. I've been involved in sprinkler systems for the last 18 years but at a low level - testing of towns main systems and assisting with tests on pump and tank systems. Fine with the mechanics and what does what but when it comes to hydraulic pressures and complex design calculations I back off and defer to others. Might be able to give you a couple of names of sprinkler guys if you're interested. I did my training with Hall and Kay up in Warrington (not 2 hours from London, I know) but they had a pretty good classroom set up with working systems. See http://www.hkfire.co.uk/ and http://www.setonline.co.uk/page.asp?page=45

Problem with insurers (and I am an insurer), is that they are more interested in the property protection side of things. It is not clear from the original post whether we are looking at a life safety system here? Insurers will generally work to the LPCB rules. One of the chaps I've used in the past is Tony Marlow and he runs training courses - see http://www.canutesoft.co...raining/Tony-Marlow.html I do recall that he was very patient with me and took the time to explain things clearly when we did a couple of pump and tank tests together. During those tests we run the systems to their full operating capacities and also push the diesel engine starter systems to their limits (to test battery levels etc) over the course of a couple of hours. Quite a workout for the system and well worth watching if you have an exsiting system with an insurer's sprinkler test visit planned.