Three Essential Precautions for Installing a Dry Fire Detection System
Posted on: 27 December 2019
If you are planning on installing a fire detection and suppression system in cold spaces such as warehouses and walk-in refrigerators, you should choose a dry setup. The most popular automated systems in commercial spaces are wet systems. These are sprinkler networks which contain water under pressure. If their sensors detect a fire, the water is released immediately. Unfortunately, this is not an ideal setup for cold spaces because the low temperatures increases the risk of the fire system malfunctioning.
If the fire detection and suppression setup in a cold space is wet, the low temperature may cause the water in the pipes to freeze. If a fire does occur, the sprinklers will not release water as expected. A dry system uses pressurised air in the piping that is connected directly to the sprinklers. The air prevents water from flowing into the cold zone. When a fire is detected, pressure drops and water flows into the pipes, extinguishing the fire.
If you are interested in installing a dry fire detection system, consider these precautions for successful installation.
Install Safety Devices
When installing a dry fire detection system, it is important to ensure that you have all the crucial safety devices in the setup. Safety devices are designed to prevent dangerous incidents due to anomalies and malfunctions. For instance, an automatic drain is crucial for preventing accumulation of water at the air-water interface. This is crucial in case the system is tripped without an actual fire incident. Other crucial safety devices include an anti-flooding device, a check valve and quick-opening devices.
Check Your Water Pressure
It is important to know the pressure of the water flowing into your fire suppression sprinklers during the installation of the dry system. As mentioned, this system relies on air pressure to hold back water until the fire detection sensors are tripped. If there is not sufficient air pressure in the piping, the high water pressure could disrupt the stability of the system. Therefore, you should check the pressure of your water supply and purchase a compatible dry valve. Otherwise, there will be accidental discharges.
Choose Quality Components
Finally, you must choose quality components for your dry fire detection and suppression setup. The system will be exposed to high pressure, which can strain the components. In addition, the temperature in the surroundings is usually quite low. If the parts are of poor quality, you will need to invest in constant repair and maintenance. Therefore, purchase only tested and certified parts.
Contact a company that provides dry fire detection system installation services to learn more.
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