Sprinkler

Systems
Prepared by Dr. Julian Jolly, PhD (UK)
SIIRSM, UK
TTT (NIOSH)

Sprinklers

Sprinkler Components

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

contents are analyzed to

determine the level of hazard.
Design area and *design density are
taken into account.
* The design density is a
measurement
of how much
water per square foot of
floor
area should be applied to the
design area.
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Types in Use
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Wet Pipe System

Dry Pipe System
Deluge System
Pre-Action System
Foam Water System
Water Spray

Wet Pipe Systems

Simple

and commonly used.

Piping is always filled with water.
Automatic with a a heat sensitive
element (fusible link).
Manufactured to react to a range
of temperatures.
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Dry Pipe Systems

Only

used in places where the ambient

temperature may be cold enough to
cause freezing.
Water is not present in the piping until
it is triggered to operate.
May not be very effective in the initial
stages of fire.
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Deluge Systems
No

heat sensitive element.

Dependent on alarm initiating device
(e.g. smoke and heat detectors,
optical flame detectors).
Uses a Deluge Valve (mechanically
latched valve/stays open once
tripped).
The open sprinklers are suitable in
places where rapid fire spread is a
concern e.g. Offshore Installation.

Deluge System (outdoors)

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Pre Action Systems

Only

used in specialized locations

(e.g. libraries, museums).
Basically 2 types i.e. single interlock
(dry) and double interlock (deluge).

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Foam Water Sprinkler Systems

Special

system used in places like

a refinery and airport hangars.
Discharges a mixture of water and
low expansion foam.

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Water Spray
Identical

to a deluge system.
Uses a special spray nozzle
(spray pattern like oval and
narrow jet ) to cover a configured
hazard area normally 3
dimensional.

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Question and Answer Session

(15 minutes)

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