Fire sprinkler devices are one of the most effective kinds of protection available for properties that fire sprinkler companies shall offer. They respond to fires, defend property, and save lives before the fire service arrives on the site. You must know the many types of sprinklers offered if you'd like to keep your residence safe from potential fire hazards. You'll need to choose the appropriate system for your facility's requirements.
In this article are the types of sprinklers to consider by fire sprinkler companies for your next installation, whether you're updating them or adding new ones.
Sprinkler Types that Fire Sprinkler Companies Install
Understanding the distinctions between the systems is crucial before deciding which sprinkler system is best. Then, you need to know how these differences could be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on the situation. It might be expensive to choose the incorrect system type.
Wet Pipe System
The most popular type of sprinkler system is a wet pipe sprinkler system. The sprinkler piping in this system continues to be filled with water. When the temperature at the ceiling rises sufficiently, a sprinkler's glass bulb or fusible link will shatter. Because the entire system is already full of water, water can freely flow from that sprinkler head.
In a system of this type, individual sprinkler heads will not all be activated at the same time. It is necessary for the temperature in the area surrounding that particular sprinkler head to be high enough to crack the glass bulb or fused link that is preventing water from escaping. As soon as this occurs, water will begin to begin flowing out of just that head quickly.
For most fire sprinkler companies, the most dependable and cost-efficient sprinkler systems are those that use wet pipes. When choosing a sprinkler system, they ought to be the primary kind that is considered for this reason.
On the other hand, there are situations in which a wet pipe sprinkler system might not be the best option. The temperature of the area that needs fire sprinkler installation is one of the primary considerations in deciding whether a wet pipe system may be utilized. Will the temperature be conditioned to at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or higher in all of the portions of the building that contain the sprinkler piping? If yes, then there is no danger of the water in the piping becoming frozen, and using a wet system is the option that should be favored.
On the other hand, if the answer is no, then further research could be required to discover whether or not an engineer can demonstrate that even if the temperature might drop below 40 degrees Celsius (4 degrees Fahrenheit), it would never dip sufficiently low for the water to freeze. Suppose it is not possible to guarantee that the temperature of the area will be low enough to prevent the possibility of water freezing. In that case, a different kind of system should be adopted.
Dry Pipe Systems
There is one big difference between wet pipe systems and dry pipe systems – water does not always flow through the pipe. Instead, the water is kept behind a dry pipe valve, which is generally a fair distance from the sprinkler fixtures.
Like a wet pipe system, the sprinkler's glass bulb or "fusible link" breaks when the roof gets hot enough. But in this case, you can't get water right away because the pipe isn't full of water. Instead, air comes out of the spray head, which is now open. This makes the pressure drop, opening the dry pipe valve and letting water into the system. The open fountain head will then let water out.
Since there is a gap between turning on the sprinklers and water flowing, dry pipe systems can be a little small. The size limit is meant to keep the time that the water supply is delayed to a minimum.
A dry pipe system is a good choice for places that don't have air conditioning or where you can't be sure that the temperature will be high enough to keep water within the system from freezing. It is important to remember that at least the part of the house where the water gets in, and the dry pipe valve must be warm enough to keep the pipes from freezing.
Preaction Systems
The preaction system may be the most challenging type of fire sprinkler system. There are three different kinds of preaction systems: one that doesn't lock, one that locks once, and one that locks twice. The main distinction between preaction systems and wet and dry pipe systems is that water can't be put into a preaction system until a particular event take place.
To help you understand how these kinds of systems work, we will use a room that is protected by sprinklers that are fed by a preaction system. There are sprinklers in the room, and it can also automatically tell when it gets too hot. Most of the time, the temperature rating for the detection device will be lower than that of the sprinklers.
This will help ensure the alarm goes off before a water head starts working. In this case, our monitoring system will be heat detectors with a temperature rating of 135°F, and the fire sprinklers will have a temperature level of 165°F.
If something other than a fire happened, like an accident that broke the glass bulb on a sprinkler head, the system would fill with water and start flowing from the broken sprinkler head. In a single locking preaction system, a broken glass bulb would not cause water to flow because it would not cause the system to fill with water. For a single interlock system, a system filled with water will only happen when the monitoring devices are turned on.
If there were a fire in the same room, both the non-interlock and single-interlock methods would work similarly. The heat detectors should go off first since they have a more excellent temperature limit. If the heat monitors are turned on in a system with one interlock or one without, the system will fill with water. Then, if the temperature keeps going up, a spray will start to work.
Since the heat has already been detected, the system is full of water and should work like a standard wet pipe system. In the same case, if you have a double-interlock system, the water won't fill up when the heat sensor goes off. Instead, the system will fill with water once the heat recognition system is turned on and a sprinkler head is turned on.
There will be a delay in getting water, like with dry pipe systems. Because of this, double interlock preaction systems have the same size limits as dry pipe systems. On the other hand, non-interlock and single interlock systems can only have up to 1,000 spray heads per preaction valve.
Fire Sprinkler Installation
Sprinkler systems should only be installed in place by fire sprinkler companies certified by a reputable group.
Only hardware and parts that have been checked and cleared by a third party should be used.
If it's being put in after the fact, it's essential to consider where the existing pipes, electrical connections, and water pressure from the mains are. A water storage device may be needed.
Conclusion
Sprinklers can save lives without question, but they additionally save money in the long run. 99% of fires in structures where fire sprinklers are placed are stopped or put out by the sprinklers. Estimates show that fires in properties with sprinklers cause only one-tenth as much damage as in buildings without sprinklers.
A fire sprinkler system is a good purchase that will last for a long time and keep you safe and worry-free.