Iron and steel sprinkler piping, particularly dry pipe sprinkler systems, are subject to blockage and degraded flow performance by internal corrosion and tuberculation of the interior of the piping. We are all familiar with common…
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The old requirement/standard for the installation of pressure relief valves was only for gridded systems. Since 2010, NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems requires relief valves for all wet-pipe systems. The current…
Read MoreMany jurisdictions have adopted NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, to help ensure that sprinkler systems are properly inspected and maintained. Many property insurance companies often require that this standard…
Read MoreIf the temperature can or will be below 40°F, the sprinkler piping or heads need to be protected against freezing. There are several methods of automatic sprinkler protection that should be evaluated. Antifreeze Because water…
Read MoreOur previous articles in October 2004 and August 2006 touched on the subject of the need for heat and smoke vents in fully sprinklered facilities. We wrote about engineering and fire testing research versus Building…
Read MoreOne of the most effective fire protection elements in buildings is automatic sprinklers. When sprinklers cover an area of fire origin, they operate in 95% of all reported structure fires that are large enough to…
Read MoreComponents of a Sprinkler: What Causes Corrosion? Wet and dry sprinkler systems consist of metal pipe, water and trapped or compressed air. Any environment that places oxygen, metal and untreated water in prolonged contact with…
Read MoreDuring inspections of electrical rooms, property loss prevention engineers should determine how much of a presence there is of “grouped power cables.” There are no clear definitions or criteria as to what amount of cables…
Read MoreEarly Suppression Fast-Response (ESFR) sprinklers are now commonly referred to as Suppression Mode Sprinklers. This is due to the fact that they are designed to actually extinguish a fire rather than to just control a…
Read MoreThe standard commonly used in the United States for sprinkler system testing and maintenance is NFPA 25, “Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.” In Europe, the common standard is…
Read MoreThe owner of the large glass plant couldn’t remember the last time he tested the building’s dry-pipe sprinkler system. The facility had been sitting idle for at least a year, and he had three other…
Read MoreDetermining the need for seismic protection for a sprinkler system and designing the protection used to be a straightforward task. The designer would look on an Earthquake Zone Map in NFPA 13 to see if…
Read MoreThe Effectiveness of Automatic Sprinklers Automatic sprinklers are the most effective fire protection in buildings overall available. Based on studies and loss experience, when sprinklers are present, the chances of dying in a fire and…
Read MoreHeat transfer systems are used widely throughout various industries. Their most common use is in chemical processes where temperature control is needed for large quantities of materials. The greatest concern is where the heat transfer…
Read MorePressure reducing valves (PRV) are frequently used in high rise buildings to keep the pressure on sprinkler systems below the allowable maximum, typically 175 psi, when the supply to the systems can be considerably higher.…
Read MoreIn our April 2000 article, we detailed what microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is and what it can do to fire protection system (FPS) piping. This is a continuation of our previous article. The concerns from…
Read MoreIn fire protection service, pressure reducing valves (PRV’s) can be found on standpipes and automatic sprinkler systems in high-rise buildings, in pump houses, on public and private gravity water systems and other situations where conditions…
Read MoreAutomatic sprinkler protection is considered the single most effective tool in preventing loss and damage from fire. However some people still worry about the possibility of unexpected water discharge from defective sprinklers. Such an occurrence…
Read MoreIt is important to remember that the building causes the strains on sprinkler piping during earthquakes. If sprinkler piping could be isolated from the building, earthquake strains could only enter the sprinkler system through the…
Read MoreIn 1996 the NFPA began receiving inquiries about MIC. What is MIC? It is a corrosion problem characterized by pinhole leaks in metallic piping systems often after only a few years of service. MIC is…
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