Fire sprinklers are designed to prevent fires from spreading through buildings. They consist of pipes filled with water that runs throughout the building. When a fire starts, the sprinklers activate and release the water into the air. The water then falls back down onto the floor, extinguishing the fire.
A fire sprinkler system consists of two main parts: the piping and the sprinkler heads. The market has various sprinkler heads, such as wet pipe, dry pipe, and preaction. ‘Wet’ pipe sprinklers are connected directly to the supply line, whereas dry pipe sprinklers are connected to a separate drainage line. Preaction sprinklers protect against both hot gases and liquids.
What Are the Use of Fire Sprinkler Systems?
- Their main application is in schools, grocery stores, office complexes, industrial facilities, malls, restaurants, and retail spaces.
- They can save lives by quickly extinguishing fires. This means they provide more protection than smoke alarms alone because when people hear an alarm go on, they often don’t immediately know where or what caused the sound.
- In some cases, they can reduce structural damage and property losses.
Types Of Fire Sprinkler System
There are four major fire sprinkler systems: wet pipe, dry pipe, preaction, and deluge. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Knowing which one works best for your space will help you determine which system is right for your business. Here are the most common types of commercial fire sprinkler systems:
Wet Pipe
The installation of wet pipe sprinklers is part of a roof fire suppression system. If a fire breaks out, the roof sprays the water on the flames and smothers them.
Wet pipes are made up of small ‘pipes’ and valves that contain a mixture of liquid and gas. These systems are generally more expensive than other sprinkler types.
Dry Pipe
This type of fire sprinkler system only contains water. It does not have any gas or liquid inside.
Dry pipes connect to a single outlet, controlling them individually. However, this makes them less efficient at containing fire and smoke. All outlets must be activated with dry pipe sprinklers if there’s a problem. Dry pipes are usually more affordable than wet pipes.
They usually require no maintenance and are perfect for large open areas like warehouses and factories or for areas that need frequent washing (like supermarket car park floors).
Preaction
These types of sprinkler heads protect against both hot gasses and liquids. Preactions work differently than other fire sprinkler systems. First, you need to make sure there aren’t any flammable materials near their location. They generally release pressurized water to control the fire.
Deluge
Deluge fire sprinklers use compressed air instead of water. The compressed air is stored in a tank or cylinder until someone turns on the valve. Once it’s turned on, it shoots high-pressure water into the fire to stop it from spreading.
The advantage of deluges is that temperature changes do not affect their spray pattern. Therefore, even cold winter temperatures won’t affect how accurately they shoot the water. Deluge sprinklers are good at stopping fires without damaging nearby structures. This kind of sprinkler also covers more ground than others do. However, they cost more.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance requirements vary based on the type of fire sprinkler system you choose. A good rule of thumb is to install a sprinkler system every year for businesses that operate 24 hours per day. However, if your company only operates during certain times of the week or month, installing the system less frequently may be sufficient.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a company over doing the work yourself could mean significant savings when installing your fire sprinkler system. While the technology behind sprinkler systems is relatively simple, the process of integrating them into a building can be tricky and potentially dangerous. Because of liability issues, many insurance companies won’t cover installations unless professional contractors have installed them.
Also, experts offer warranties that cover both installation and repair services. Before drilling or cutting, professional contractors often know where to locate hidden electrical wires and plumbing pipes. They also perform inspections throughout construction to ensure that the routing and connections of sprinkler piping are correct.
They can also ensure that all codes are OK regarding code compliance and safety protocols and provide emergency response plans to keep your business running at high-efficiency levels if a fire breaks out. Also, when a sprinkler head does break, they can fix it quickly to minimize downtime.
Additionally, regular inspections by certified professionals will prevent sudden leaks from causing problems that could cost thousands of dollars to resolve. Finally, they guarantee that their clients receive the highest quality products, ensuring longevity and maximum performance throughout their life.
In case you have any architectural, structural, and MEP design including fire sprinkler design requirements, or need your home renovation design including structure, and HVAC design, feel free to contact us. We provide you with the full permit set design + T24 for your request.
