Unavoidable problems ultimately arise when your fire sprinkler system becomes older and needs a reliable fire sprinkler repair service. If these problems are not resolved immediately, they may need more expensive repairs or even a complete replacement.
The long-term benefits of fire sprinkler repair and maintenance could be more than you think it's worth. Your property will be safer, and all of your equipment will function properly if required with proper maintenance of your fire sprinkler repair contractor.
How Fire Sprinklers Work
Fire sprinkler systems, which automatically extinguish flames in the room where they first started and stop them from spreading or re-igniting, have revolutionized fire safety. Fire sprinkler systems operate as follows:
Step 1: Fire Sprinklers Detect Heat
Contrary to common perception, smoke does not activate fire sprinklers; heat that goes up with the smoke triggers most fire sprinklers to activate. But, if smoke were the culprit, all it would take to set off a fire sprinkler head in the office kitchen would be for you to burn your toast.
High heat activates the sprinkler system, which is how fire sprinklers work. The air just above a fire warms up quickly as it burns. This heated air rises to the ceiling and spreads out.
Most sprinkler heads have a glass bulb that is liquid-filled and made of glycerin. When this liquid comes into contact with air that has been heated to between 135 and 165 degrees, it expands. The liquid expands, shattering the container's glass and turning on the sprinkler head.
Step 2: Fire Sprinklers Douse The Fire
Each sprinkler head is connected to a conduit that extends from the building to a dependable water supply. A valve opens when heat triggers a sprinkler head, enabling pressure from the pipe system to discharge.
A fire sprinkler system needs pressure water to function properly. This enables the water to spray outward in an arc, fully extinguish the fire, and stop it from rekindling.
Step 3: Fire Sprinklers Minimize Water Damage
Many people mistakenly assume that all sprinklers in a system are connected and activated when one is activated by heat because of the deceptive manner in which sprinkler systems are shown in movies.
This differs from how fire sprinklers actually function; putting out a fire would amount to nothing more than exchanging water damage for fire damage.
Thankfully, sprinkler heads operate independently. Most of the time, one or two sprinkler activations are sufficient to extinguish a fire fully. This enables the little area where the fire began only to suffer minor water damage. Also, the swift action of fire sprinklers is less destructive to your property than a call to the fire department since they put out flames with around six times less water than a fire hose.
Fire Sprinkler System Types
Fire sprinkler systems have evolved into many distinct forms because they can protect a range of structures and properties. They include foam, wet, dry, and pre-action. Each has a distinct set of qualities that safeguard the particular structure and piece of property for which it was placed.
Sprinkler heads are linked to a network of pipes in the walls or ceiling of a room, as we discovered on the previous page. Steel, copper, or fire-resistant plastic are used to make these pipes. A wet pipe system, made up of steel pipes that are constantly filled with water, is the one that is most often employed in commercial buildings (hence, the term "wet").
A reasonable amount of pressure is applied to the water within the pipes. The pressure in the pipes is instantly released when the sprinkler head is engaged, giving the system a quicker response time than any other.
With minimal maintenance requirements and ease of installation, the wet pipe system is also the cheapest and most dependable. Wet pipe systems are only sometimes the greatest option, however. The pipes are not advised for areas where they can freeze or in-home settings where unintentional leaks might be harmful since they are constantly full of water.
As you may have guessed, compressed air rather than water fills the pipes in a dry pipe system. A valve discharges the compressed air via the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is actuated. After every last bit of air has been expelled, the pipe's pressure changes, enabling water to enter the system. Systems with dry pipes respond more slowly.
Dry pipe systems discharge more highly pressured water to compensate for this, necessitating bigger pipes (and a larger budget). Also, although a faulty pipe in a dry pipe system doesn't threaten to flood, system maintenance is more difficult and expensive. Hence, this sort of system is only advised in certain circumstances.
Despite their high level of dependability, fire sprinkler systems sometimes need fire sprinkler repair and maintenance.
Signs You Need Fire Sprinkler Repair
If your system requires fire sprinkler repair, get in touch with us at A-1 Fire & Security Equipment today. Your broken sprinkler system will be fixed, and we'll ensure it operates correctly. Our priority is to ensure your security and satisfaction. These are some typical fire sprinkler system incidents that would need you to get in touch with us for repairs:
Visible Leaks
If there is a leak, water stains will be visible on your walls and ceiling. Your fire sprinkler system's seal, defective plumbing, or a roof problem might all be responsible for the leak. As a result of the tremendous pressure within the pipes, joints often loosen over time.
But, once you see a watermark, you should contact us at A-1 Fire & Security Equipment to ensure your system is operating as effectively as possible. Frequent maintenance and inspections should detect problems with the seal before they leak.
Loose Or Broken Sprinkler Head
Fire sprinkler head damage is common. You may not even know that your sprinkler head has gotten loose or damaged due to simple indoor roughhousing or an accident involving a ladder, forklift, or warehouse truck. If you discover a sprinkler head that looks "off-kilter," call us at A-1 Fire & Security Equipment. You risk making a mess if you try to change the sprinkler head alone.
Tripped alarm
Your fire sprinkler system's pipes are inflated when periodic maintenance is carried out. The air escapes from the pipes via minute breaches over a few days or weeks. This is a typical maintenance aspect and won't affect your system's capacity to protect you. Unfortunately, sometimes the air becomes stuck and interferes with the proper operation of your system. You must contact us at A-1 Fire & Security Equipment every once to correct any "false alarms" and safeguard your safety.
Fire Sprinkler Repair vs. Replacement
The age and kind of fire sprinkler system presently installed in your building should be considered as the first step in determining if you require fire sprinkler repair or replacement services. If your system is ancient, a replacement could be necessary.
Look at how much corrosion is presently occurring in your pipes as well. If you use a dry system, the pipes contain significant oxygen.
Further corrosion damage might result from this, increasing the likelihood that a replacement service would be necessary rather than merely a repair. With a wet system, the pipes have less oxygen, which means fewer things that lead to severe corrosion. This indicates that more restricted corrosion may need a repair service.
Your repair and replacement history is a significant aspect that influences your choice. To simplify it, when a problem arises, building owners should constantly maintain account of their prior repair and replacement services. By keeping track of the prior fire sprinkler repair services your system needed, you could examine the problems over time to learn the best fix when a problem does occur.
It's wise to consider your financial situation and the frequency of your maintenance needs. It is advisable to replace the system entirely if you need to fix it weekly or even monthly.
While replacement services may seem pricey, several methods exist to install a new system properly without going over budget. Also, if you replace the system that requires continual maintenance, all prior problems are permanently solved. Usually, just a portion of the system has to be changed. Often, just 20% of it has to be changed to solve the issue. Replacing could be your best alternative if you keep encountering the same problem.
We at A-1 Fire & Security Equipment are here to assist you in determining whether your fire sprinkler system is experiencing little or significant problems. We are the industry standard for fire sprinkler inspection and maintenance in Waco, Texas, and nearby regions. Call us immediately if you need to set up a maintenance, repair, or replacement appointment.