Sprinkler SystemsSprinkler Systems

Prepared by Dr. Julian Jolly, PhD (UK)Prepared by Dr. Julian Jolly, PhD (UK) SIIRSM, UKSIIRSM, UK

TTT (NIOSH)TTT (NIOSH)

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SprinklersSprinklers

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Sprinkler ComponentsSprinkler Components

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Where Used?Where Used?

A requirement under the Building A requirement under the Building Codes, Sprinkler Systems are used in Codes, Sprinkler Systems are used in Commercial Buildings Commercial Buildings (e.g. shopping (e.g. shopping malls, offices),malls, offices), Hotels, Hospitals, Hotels, Hospitals, Museums, Airports, Oil Refineries and Museums, Airports, Oil Refineries and Warehouses.Warehouses.

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Before InstallationBefore Installation►Building contents are analyzed to determine Building contents are analyzed to determine

the level of hazard.the level of hazard.►Design area and *Design area and *design densitydesign density are are

taken into account.taken into account.

** The design density is a measurement The design density is a measurement of how much water per square foot of of how much water per square foot of floor area should be applied to the floor area should be applied to the design area.design area.

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Types in UseTypes in Use

1.1.Wet Pipe SystemWet Pipe System2.2.Dry Pipe SystemDry Pipe System3.3.Deluge SystemDeluge System4.4.Pre-Action SystemPre-Action System5.5.Foam Water SystemFoam Water System6.6.Water SprayWater Spray

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Wet Pipe SystemsWet Pipe Systems

►Simple and commonly used.Simple and commonly used.►Piping is always filled with water.Piping is always filled with water.►Automatic with a a heat sensitive Automatic with a a heat sensitive

element (fusible link).element (fusible link).►Manufactured to react to a range of Manufactured to react to a range of

temperatures.temperatures.

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Dry Pipe SystemsDry Pipe Systems

►Only used in places where the ambient Only used in places where the ambient temperature may be cold enough to cause temperature may be cold enough to cause freezing.freezing.

►Water is not present in the piping until it is Water is not present in the piping until it is triggered to operate.triggered to operate.

►May not be very effective in the initial stages May not be very effective in the initial stages of fire.of fire.

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Deluge SystemsDeluge Systems►No heat sensitive element.No heat sensitive element.►Dependent on alarm initiating device (e.g. Dependent on alarm initiating device (e.g.

smoke and heat detectors, optical flame smoke and heat detectors, optical flame detectors).detectors).

►Uses a Uses a Deluge Valve Deluge Valve (mechanically (mechanically latched valve/stays open once tripped).latched valve/stays open once tripped).

►The open sprinklers are suitable in places The open sprinklers are suitable in places where rapid fire spread is a concern where rapid fire spread is a concern e.g. e.g. Offshore Installation.Offshore Installation.

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Deluge System (outdoors)Deluge System (outdoors)

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Pre Action SystemsPre Action Systems

►Only used in specialized locations Only used in specialized locations (e.g. (e.g. libraries, museums).libraries, museums).

►Basically 2 types i.e. single interlock (dry) Basically 2 types i.e. single interlock (dry) and double interlock (deluge).and double interlock (deluge).

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Foam Water Sprinkler SystemsFoam Water Sprinkler Systems

►Special system used in places like a Special system used in places like a refinery and airport hangars.refinery and airport hangars.

►Discharges a mixture of water and low Discharges a mixture of water and low expansion foam.expansion foam.

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Water SprayWater Spray►Identical to a deluge system.Identical to a deluge system.►Uses a special spray nozzle Uses a special spray nozzle (spray (spray

pattern like oval and narrow jet )pattern like oval and narrow jet ) to to cover a configured hazard area cover a configured hazard area normally 3 dimensional.normally 3 dimensional.

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Question and Answer SessionQuestion and Answer Session(15 minutes)(15 minutes)

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