Fire Sprinkler System Types

Fire Sprinkler System Types

• The most frequently installed fire protection system is the wet pipe sprinkler system.
• Dry pipe systems are recommended for unheated spaces and areas subject to freezing temperatures.
• Deluge systems are recommended when the nature of the risk requires automatic and simultaneous activation of all sprinkler heads.
• Preaction systems are designed to provide controlled protection and allow fast detection, protecting against accidental discharge.

Standpipe Systems

• A standpipe is a rigid, pre-piped water system built into multistory buildings, allowing firefighters to use water to extinguish a fire.
• Standpipes provide water for hose lines strategically placed in a building.
• Some older buildings solely have standpipe systems, while newer buildings have systems that supply the fire sprinkler and standpipe system.
• Standpipe systems are commonly found in large floor area buildings, where a facility might be far away from an outside entrance or in a multistory building.

Standpipe System Maintenance

• The NFPA requires regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the system doesn't have damages or leaks, control handles are secure, and the equipment is easily accessible and labeled properly.
• All valves need weekly inspections, besides supervised or valves secured with locks.
• Automatic standpipes require a monthly evaluation.
• Gauges on preaction, dry, and deluge valves need weekly inspections to test for sufficient air and water pressure levels.

Standpipe System Types

• Automatic wet standpipe systems have pressurized water in their pipes at all times, and water immediately flows from them when a hose outlet is opened.
• Automatic dry standpipe systems supply water on demand when a valve is opened, but are filled with pressurized air instead of water.
• Semiautomatic dry standpipe systems have mildly pressurized air in most of the piping, but have water in the lesser piping between the water supply and the deluge valve.
• Manual wet standpipe systems are similar to automatic wet systems, but the water is not pressurized to fight fires by simply opening a valve.
• Manual dry standpipe systems are essentially a system composed of empty pipe, requiring the fire department to arrive and supply both water and pressure.

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher

• Wet chemical extinguishers are specifically designed for fires involving cooking oils and fats (Class F fires).
• They are ideal for commercial and residential kitchens.
• They are not suitable for other types of fires.
• They work by releasing a fine spray that dampens the flames and creates a film that seals the surface and completely extinguishes the fire.

Fire Sprinkler Systems

• Fire sprinkler systems are effective at controlling fires in 97% of home fires between 2015-2019.
• They are a type of automatic extinguishing system (AES) that prevents fire growth and spread by releasing water through a series of sprinkler heads.
• Water is released through the sprinkler heads once the surrounding air reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Sprinkler heads activate when exposed to high heat, not smoke, minimizing accidental discharge when there isn't a fire.
• Individual sprinkler heads open one at a time, reducing water damage when extinguishing a fire.
• Having a sprinkler system means your home or business is guarded 24/7, and they put out fires using far less water than the fire department would, minimizing water damage.

Learn about the different types of fire sprinkler systems, including wet pipe, dry pipe, and deluge systems, and their applications in fire protection.