When choosing new or replacement fire sprinklers, it is important to be aware of the types available so you ensure the sprinklers best suited to your property are installed! Hazards present, temperature range, building type, assets present and code requirements are a few basic factors that will determine which system is best fit to protect your property and its occupants!
Wet Fire Sprinkler Systems
The most common sprinklers are wet pipe systems. This means the pipes are always full of pressurized water, making them the most reliable and cost effective option for temperature controlled environments without special hazards. Each sprinkler head is fitted with a temperature regulated valve of some sort that will break once the temperature reaches a certain point, opening that sprinkler and dousing the water in the affected area.
Wet pipe fire sprinklers are the most cost effective, easiest to maintain, and most effective! The only drawback is because the water is stored in the pipes, if there is a cold spot and the pipes experience freezing, a pipe can burst, causing water damage to the area.
Dry Fire Sprinkler Systems
Dry pipe sprinklers are almost identical to wet pipe systems, other than the fact that the pipes aren’t filled with water until the system is deployed. The pipes are filled with pressurized air to prevent frozen and burst sprinkler pipes in uncontrolled temperature environments. When the system is activated, pressure in the pipes is released and a valve opens to release water into the pipes and to the activated sprinkler head!
Dry pipe fire sprinklers protect against freezing pipes, and the detrimental effects they can cause. They are a little more expensive to maintain and have a slower response time to a fire than a wet sprinkler, however, this can be a worthwhile expense to protect valuable assets from the damage of a burst pipe!
Pre-action Fire Sprinkler Systems
Pre-action sprinkler systems are a type of dry pipe system, meaning water isn’t stored in the pipes, and once the water is released into pipes it is safeguarded by electric valves individually activated by heat, smoke, or flames. Only the areas that are triggered will be doused with water, minimizing the damage.
This system works best in applications where accidental activation of sprinklers can be detrimental. It costs more than a traditional system to install and maintain, but can be offset by the reduced risk of damage to costly assets.
Deluge Fire Sprinkler Systems
Deluge sprinklers are also a type of dry pipe system, unpressurized pipes are directly connected to a water supply. These systems have open sprinkler heads, meaning once the system is activated, water will be released into the pipes, and through all sprinkler heads immediately.
Deluge systems are commonly implemented in high hazard areas that aren’t temperature controlled. The water is quickly released once the system is activated because all of the sprinkler heads are open, dousing the entire area at once, not waiting for each sprinkler head to activate. This makes it the most efficient way to put out a fire in an industrial setting.
Trust the professionals to find the sprinkler system for you!
All State Fire & Security provides all of the above sprinkler systems and can offer you professional guidance to choose the best sprinkler system for your building in New York and Northern Pennsylvania!
Contact us today for more information!
