1.

Hose reel Function

Wet risers are used to supply water within buildings for firefighting purposes. The provision
of a built-in water distribution system means that firefighters do not need to create their
own distribution system in order to fight a fire and avoids the breaching of fire
compartments by running hose lines between them.

Wet risers are permanently charged with water. This is as opposed to dry risers which do not
contain water when they are not being used, but are charged with water by fire service
pumping appliances when necessary.

Part B of the building regulations (Fire Safety) requires that fire mains are provided in all
buildings that are more than 18 m tall. In buildings less than 50 m tall, either a wet riser or
dry riser fire main can be provided. However, where a building extends to more than 50 m
above the rescue service vehicle access level, wet risers are necessary as the pumping
pressure required to charge the riser is higher than can be provided by a fire service
appliance, and to ensure an immediate supply of water is available at high level.

Wet risers are charged with water from a pressurised supply, often pumped from a storage
tank, with landing valves at specified locations on each floor.

It should be possible for fire service pumping appliances to supplement the supply to wet
risers in the event of an emergency, such as storage tanks running low during long events.
Pumping appliances should be able to access ‘…within 18 m and within sight of, a suitable
entrance giving access to the main and in sight of the inlet.’
2. How hose reel pump system for hose reel work

The hose reels are also located at each lift lobby. Each hose reel has a diameter of 25 mm
and a length of 30 m. Pressure reducers are installed at the end of each wet riser pipe to
supply a lower pressured water to hose reels.

When the valves of the hoses are opened, pressurized water will shoot out through the
nozzles of the hoses. The pressure in the piping will drop. The pressure switches at the pump
room will sense the drop in pressure and the pumps will start to pressurize the pipe again. A
typical system for a high-rise building is described below. The pressures are monitored at the
pump room to control the pumps.

Duty Pump
If the pressure drops below 125 psi, this means a wet riser landing valve or a hose reel gate
valve has been opened. The pressure switch that senses this set pressure activates and starts
the duty pump.

Stand-by Pump
If for any reason the pressure continues to drop below 125 psi, it means either the duty
pump has not started or is not available (under repair…etc.). The stand-by pump then takes
over the function that is not performed by the duty pump. The stand-by pump is set to cut-in
at 95 psi. Once the water flow is not needed any more the pressure builds up in the piping
network. The duty or stand-by pumps stops after the cutout pressure is reached at 220 psi.
3. Why Wet Riser should maintaining

A defective or otherwise inoperative dry riser will seriously effect fire service operations.
Riser failure can be brought about through many factors. An open outlet, restrictive
blockage, mechanical failure of the pipework, vandalism and more recently theft of the
inlet/outlet fittings.
At any time there is an issue with the correct functioning of a dry riser, the OIC must be
informed immediately. He/she should make an immediate reassessment of available
resources and, if required, order on additional appliances to maintain control of the incident.
All reasonable steps should be taken to rectify a dry riser failure as a matter of urgency.
The most common reason for water failure or low delivery rates is an open outlet valve.
Should this happen on a floor below the bridgehead this may be quickly remedied by
deploying a crew to check these outlets.

If it is suspected that there is an outlet open above the bridgehead, then the OIC must risk
assess how safe it will be to deploy a BA crew to rectify this problem. This risk assessment
will include factors such as personal protection of BA crew, extent of fire travel, degree of
smoke logging, integrity of fire and smoke compartmentation, location of incident in relation
to stairwell, effectiveness of communications systems.

If the dry riser is deemed to be completely inoperative then the OIC must consider
alternative ways to supply water to the incident floors/compartment. This may be a complex
process as the OIC must endeavor to maintain the compartmentation of the building, as this
is what protects and provides safe access and egress.

What may appear as a simple, and often suggested, solution to riser failure…"Laying hose
lines up stairwells" will undoubtedly breach compartmentation and will lead to premature
smoke logging of the stairwell should hose lines be extended into the affected area.
In single stairwell buildings consideration should be given to hauling hoses up externally. In
high rise buildings this will be limited to 2 lengths of hose. These hoses should enter the
building through windows/balconies on the fire floor as far away as possible from the
compartment/flat that is involved. Use of an ALP/TL may be of assistance in this task.
In all instances where a riser fails or is inoperative a controlled and well resourced
alternative must be initiated as a priority.
4. Technology of wet riser

The wet riser system described below is a typical installation in a high-rise building. It is used
to supply water from the wet riser water tank, through wet riser pipes, distributed to each
floor, and ending at the canvas hoses and hose reels.

Fire pumps function either by an electric motor or a diesel engine, or, occasionally a steam
turbine. If the local building code requires power independent of the local electric power
grid, a pump using an electric motor may utilize, when connected via a listed transfer switch,
the installation of an emergency generator.

The pipes supplying water to the hoses are pressurized all the time. Three pumps supply the
water from the tank to the hoses. The pumps are the duty pump, the stand-by pump, and
the jockey pump. Pressure switches along the pipe control the starting of each pump.

The wet riser canvas hoses are located at each lift lobby. Each canvas hose has a diameter of
65 mm and a length of 30 m. When the hoses are in use, the pressure at each floor is
controlled by landing valves that return excess pressurized water back to the wet riser tank
through drain pipes
5. Conclusion

The Conclusion is, a wet riser supply system should be capable of maintaining a minimum
running pressure at top outlet at roof level of 4 bar at a flow rate of 22.7l/s. the maximum
running pressure permitted with only one outlet in operation is 5 bar.

Wet risers should be within fire-fighting shafts, and where necessary in protected escape
stairs. Wet riser outlets, or 'landing valves' may be within in protected lobbies, stairs or
enclosures where these are available.

Wet risers should be inspected and tested regularly to ensure equipment is functioning
correctly and ready for use. Problems can be very serious in the event of a fire, and are
typically caused by vandalism or theft, blockages or pipework failure or by connection failure
or outlets being open.