Fire Safety Solutions

Wet pipe sprinkler systems are the most reliable, because they are simple, with the only operating components being the automatic sprinklers and the automatic alarm check valve. An automatic water supply provides water under pressure to the system piping. All of the piping is filled with water, until sufficient heat is applied, causing one or more sprinklers to fuse (open), the automatic sprinklers prevent the water from being discharged. Operation – When an automatic sprinkler is exposed to sufficient heat, the sensitive element releases, allowing water to flow from that sprinkler. Sprinklers are manufactured to react to a range of temperatures.

Dry pipe systems are be used (by regulation) in spaces in which the ambient temperature may be cold enough to freeze the water in a wet pipe system, rendering the system inoperable. They are second most common sprinkler system type that uses automatic sprinklers connected to a piping network with pressurized air or where water is not present in the piping until the system operates. The piping is pressurised with air, at a “maintenance” pressure which is relatively low compared with the water supply pressure. Operating procedure of dry pipe valve– when one or more of the automatic sprinklers is exposed to sufficient heat; it operates, allowing the maintenance air to vent from that sprinkler.

“Deluge” systems are systems that have open sprinklers, i.e. the heat sensing operating element is removed during installation so that all sprinklers connected to the water piping system are open. These systems are used for special hazards where rapid fire spread is a concern, as they provide a simultaneous application of water over the entire hazard. Water is not present in the piping until the system operates. Because the sprinkler offices are open, the piping is at ambient air pressure. To prevent the water supply pressure from forcing water into the piping, a deluge valve is used in the water supply connection, which is a mechanically latched valve. It is a non-resetting valve and stays open once tripped.

Pre-action sprinkler systems are specialised for use in locations where accidental activation is undesired, such as in museums with rare artworks, manuscripts, or books. They are a combination of wet, dry, and deluge systems.
Single interlock systems is similar to dry systems except that these systems require that a supervised event takes place prior to the action of water introduction into the system piping due to opening of the pre-action valve.
Double interlock systems are similar to deluge systems except that automatic sprinklers are used. These systems require that both a preceding and supervised event and automatic sprinkler activation take place prior the action of water introduction into the system piping.

A foam water sprinkler system is a special application system, discharging a mixture of water and low expansion foam concentrate, resulting in a foam spray from the sprinkler. These systems are usually used with special hazard occupancies associated with high challenge fires, such as flammable liquids and airport hangars. The operation is as described above, depending on the system type into which the foam is injected

Operationally identical to deluge systems, water spray systems utilise pipe and nozzle configurations that protect unique hazards, such as an electrical transformer containing flammable liquid. The spray nozzle and pipe setup are designed around the often three-dimensional nature of the hazard.