Instances of building fire sprinklers systems are reported from across the world at an alarming frequency. Such cases often show that the consequences of uncontrolled fire and smoke can be devastating. As a result, it further proves that fire protection is an extremely significant aspect of construction and design. Out of all the various fire protection systems that are available to the average consumer, automatic sprinklers seem to be the safest bet. More specifically, dry pipe sprinklers have continually proved to be the best measure that a businessman or home owner can take in order to protect his property. In this article, we take a look at dry pipe fire sprinkler systems, their applications, design, and how exactly they differ from wet pipe sprinkler systems. 

What is a Dry Pipe Sprinkler System?

Despite being the popular choice, Industrial Piping in Bangalore , wet pipe sprinklers are not suitable in regions that experience cold weather. This is due to the fact that the water stored in these sprinkler pipes will tend to freeze in temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Such frosted sprinklers are bound to fail in putting out a fire. This is where dry pipe sprinklers come in. In such cases, dry pipe fire sprinkler systems make for a suitable alternative as the pipes are filled with air or nitrogen. As a result, they are not susceptible to freezing during cold winters. Furthermore, these sprinklers are the only type that could be installed in exclusively unheated spaces such as freezer storages or warehouses.

How do they work?

The functionality of dry pipe sprinklers is derived from its use in specific conditions. Contrary to what most believe, dry pipe sprinklers do use a fair bit of water to douse the flames as well. Compressed air or nitrogen is held in the sprinkler pipes through a remote valve. At this point, there is a total absence of water in these pipes. When the sprinklers are triggered, the remote valve opens and dry air rushes out of the sprinkler heads. Once all the air is flushed out of the pipes, water rapidly flows through them (to fill the pressure drop) and is sprayed over the flamed area. 

How viable are dry pipe fire sprinkler systems?

Apart from being capable of functioning in freezing temperatures, the absence of water in dry pipe sprinklers also means that they are as easily vulnerable to rusting or dripping. This makes them especially useful in water-sensitive areas. However, there are also a few disadvantages that are associated with dry pipe sprinklers. For one, dry pipe sprinklers are much more technically complex to control and maintain as they deal with pressurized air. This could also indicate a rise in maintenance costs. Secondly, because they are not actively filled with water, dry pipe sprinklers have a response time that is delayed by 60 seconds. The time delay may not seem like much but it can be a lot of extra time for the fire to spread and cause damage.

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