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.