
The description above is for standard dry pipe sprinkler systems, but there are two variants for special applications: pre-action systems and deluge systems. Dry pipe systems are also more difficult to reestablish after they activate, since the piping must be drained of all water and then refilled with compressed air or nitrogen. Otherwise, the lower cost, simpler maintenance and faster response of a wet pipe sprinkler system are preferred. This system configuration is recommended when a wet pipe system would be prone to freezing. As the distance between both points increases, so does the response time. However, dry pipe systems have a slower response than wet pipe systems because water must travel from the source to the activated sprinkler head. When a sprinkler head activates, the compressed air is released and the pressure relief opens the valve, allowing water into the system. However, the piping is filled with compressed air or nitrogen instead of water, and a valve controls the entrance of water into the system. In their most basic configuration, dry pipe sprinkler systems respond just like their wet pipe counterparts: sprinkler heads are activated individually by heat. It is only necessary to replace the sprinkler heads that opened, and fill the piping with water again. Wet pipe systems are the easier to reset after they respond to a fire. This is not possible with a wet pipe system: water is held back at each sprinkler head, and they are activated individually by localized heating, so there is no way to make them all activate at once. There are also special applications where flammable substances are stored, and the sprinkler system may be required to spray water from all sprinkler heads at once. The main limitation of this fire sprinkler configuration is that water in the piping can freeze with low temperature, limiting its use in cold environments (natural or man-made). They also have very simple maintenance needs. Wet pipe sprinkler systems have the lowest cost and the fastest response, making then the preferred option in a wide range of applications. For this reason, wet pipe installations have the fastest response among all sprinkler system configurations - reaction time does not depend on distance between the activated sprinkler head and the water supply.

This has a purpose: if any individual sprinkler head opens in response to heat, water flows immediately and at a moderately high pressure.
#Fire sprinkler system designer professional
Get a professional assessment of your property to determine if LL26 applies, and the scope of work required if that is the case.Īs previously mentioned, wet pipe sprinkler systems have their piping permanently filled with pressurized water. Wet pipe sprinkler systems are the standard option used in most residential and business settings, while dry pipe systems are mostly for special applications where water-filled piping would be impractical.ĭepending on the characteristics of your building, sprinkler system installation may be mandatory by July 1, 2019, according to Local Law 26 of 2004.


In this article, we will compare the two main types of piping configurations used with fire sprinklers: wet pipe and dry pipe systems.Īs you might guess from their names, wet pipe systems are permanently filled with water, while dry pipe systems are filled with air and water is held back by a valve.
#Fire sprinkler system designer tv
Our previous article on the topic provided an overview of how fire sprinklers operate, debunking some common myths about them that have been popularized by movies and TV series. Fire sprinkler systems are fundamental for making building interiors safe.
