What are the Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems?
Fire sprinkler systems are all designed to do one thing and one thing only: put water on fires so that they don’t get out of control. That said, there are a variety of different ways that different types of fire sprinkler systems go about this. There are basically four types of Houston fire sprinkler systems:
Wet Pipe Fire Sprinkler Systems – wet pipe fire sprinklers are the most common type of fire sprinkler system in use. In a wet pipe fire sprinkler, the water is stored directly in the pipes and released by heat activated sprinkler heads. This type of fire sprinkler has the advantage of being able to activate instantly, with no lag time when the fire sprinkler heads open.
Dry Pipe Fire Sprinkler Systems – dry pipe fire sprinkler systems are similar to wet pipe, except the water is not stored in the pipes. Instead, the pipes are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen gas. When the sprinkler heads open, the gas is released and a valve opens that allows water to flow out through the open fire sprinkler heads. While this causes a slight delay in water discharge, it is useful in buildings where water could freeze if kept in the pipes.
Deluge Fire Sprinkler Systems – a deluge fire sprinkler system is very similar to a wet pipe fire sprinkler system, except the fire sprinkler heads are kept open at all times – they are not activated by heat. Instead, deluge fire sprinkler systems are operated by a specialized fire alarm which causes a valve to open and release the water. Once the valve opens, it can’t be closed until manually turned off.
Deluge fire sprinklers are not commonly found in homes or offices. Instead, they are used in places where rapid fire spread is a concern. You will usually see deluge fire sprinkler systems near high rise windows, warehouse bay entries or anywhere else where a fire could escape quickly.
Pre-Action Fire Sprinkler Systems – a pre-action fire sprinkler system is basically a combination of wet pipe and dry pipe fire sprinkler system. Basically, water is not stored in the pipes until a fire detection device detects a fire. At this point, the detection device opens a valve to let the water in before the sprinkler heads open. When the heads open, the pre-action fire sprinkler system reacts as quickly as a wet pipe fire sprinkler system.
Pre-action fire sprinkler systems are best suited for areas that are at high risk for serious water damage in the event of accidental fire sprinkler activation.
No matter what type of fire sprinkler system you need in your building, Kauffman Co has you covered. If you need Houston fire sprinkler installation or expert fire suppression system maintenance in Houston, Texas, call Kauffman Co today!
