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2 Types of Commercial Sprinkler Systems In Commercial Properties
3/22/2021 (Permalink)
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Is your business equipped with the right commercial sprinkler system?
Sprinkler devices are a necessary aspect of any facility's overall fire prevention plan.
Although it's crucial to understand the two types and the differences between sprinkler systems, they should only be installed and maintained by skilled professionals.
Fire protection is included in numerous new construction projects to secure both the property and its people. Should you install a fire sprinkler system if you don't already have one? How do you know if you've got the right system in place for your company? In this blog post, we will look at different types of sprinkler systems and how they function.
What is a commercial sprinkler system?
It is common to see commercial sprinkler systems installed on ceilings or sidewalls of a commercial building. A commercial sprinkler system is an active fire safety mechanism that consists of a water delivery system and provides sufficient flow-rate and pressure to a water delivery piping system, to which the fire sprinklers connect.
How do commercial sprinkler systems work?
Commercial sprinkler systems are activated when high temperatures trigger them. When a fire starts, the air just above it quickly heats up. This hot air rises to the ceiling and spreads. When the air becomes hot enough and enters a sprinkler head, a chain reaction occurs.
In many commercial sprinkler systems, a glass bulb with a glycerin-based liquid is used. When the glass bulb liquid comes into contact with air between 135 and 165 degrees, it expands. As it expands, the glass confines are broken, and the sprinkler head will begin dispersing gallons of water.
The 2 different types of sprinkler systems:
- Hydraulic designed systems
- Pipe schedule systems
Furthermore, commercial sprinkler systems are divided into five main system types, each of which is designed to the requirements of different facilities to improve response time and maintain the safety of the staff and properties.
Five system types:
- Dry pipe
- Wet pipe
- Foam suppression systems
- Deluge
- Pre-action systems.
Dry pipe system
Water is not stored in the pipes of dry pipe systems. Instead, they're packed with pressurized nitrogen released when a fire activates the sprinkler head's valves. The pipes are filled up with vapor, which is then discharged over the smoke or fire.
Wet pipe system
Traditional fire sprinklers, also known as wet pipe sprinklers, are the most popular in commercial properties. When a fire breaks out, the heat stimulates the closest sprinkler head, releasing pressurized water held in the pipes. In the event of a false alarm, each sprinkler head is triggered individually, causing water damage.
Foam suppression system
Foam suppression systems are similar to a wet pipe system. Water is stored and flows through a network of pipes and is discharged when triggered. The only difference from a wet pipe system is that a foaming agent will also be discharged from a separately stored piping system.
Deluge system
The Deluge system's sprinkler heads remain open. They lack a heat-sensing feature in the sprinkler head and must be activated by a heat sensor or external smoke. Water fills up the pipes and is distributed to all opened sprinkler heads when high heat is sensed.
Pre-Action system
The pre-action valve opens when smoke or heat is detected, allowing water to enter the pipes. The best function of a pre-action system is the capability for a facility manager to individually turn on the sprinkler heads and spray water on the active fire. In the event of a false alarm, the two-step process allows facilities to turn off the system.
Commercial sprinkler system water damage
As you can see, a commercial sprinkler system decreases the possibility of substantial fire damage when flames erupt in a commercial property. Commercial sprinkler systems, when used with a smoke detector, can shield businesses from fires. However, as useful as sprinkler devices are in mitigating the damage caused by a fire, they often leave mass amounts of water damage when triggered.
Using water indoors to put out a fire leads to a moisture problem that needs to be quickly solved. A triggered commercial sprinkler system will ruin interiors, equipment, wet carpeting, drywall, and other property materials.
The first step when dealing with both fire and water damage is to hire a reputable restoration specialist. Hiring the right commercial restoration team will ensure that any water damage is handled and treated with professionalism to prevent further damage.
Our team at SERVPRO of North Fulton will follow these steps:
- Clear out possessions from the area.
- Remove the water.
- Properly dry the area.
- Fully restore and repair the affected area.
Call SERVPRO for sprinkler water damage
SERVPRO is a renowned water restoration vendor in the industry, and it has been serving customers in Alpharetta since 1967. If you want your everyday work life to be normal again after you have suffered any sort of commercial water damage caused by your sprinkler system, SERVPRO will be the most reliable option for you.
Our IICRC certified team is fully equipped with state-of-the-art tools and has over twenty years of experience in restoring fire/water damage and helping customers with fire insurance claims. Your property will be back in a pre-disaster state in no time. We offer 24/7 emergency services to our customers, so feel free to contact us at any time!