Fire Protection System: Wet Type Fire Sprinkler System
Overview
• Brief History of Fire Sprinklers
• Fire Sprinkler System
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – Sprinklers
- Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
- Fire Code of the Philippines - Sprinklers
• On fire Protection - Sprinklers
• Design
• Operation and Installation
• Wet Type Fire Sprinkler System
• Corrosion on Wet Pipe System
• Subsystems
• Parts and Functions
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
Brief History: Fire Sprinkler Systems
• 15th century – Leonardo da Vinci designed a sprinkler
system. Leonardo automated his patron's kitchen with a
super-oven and a system of conveyor belts. In a comedy
of errors, everything went wrong during a huge banquet,
and a fire broke out. "The sprinkler system worked all too
well, causing a flood that washed away all the food and a
good part of the kitchen”.
• 1723 – Ambrose Godfrey created the first successful
automated sprinkler system. He is a chemist who used
gunpowder to release large amounts of water to
extinguish the fire.
• 1812 – William Congreve designed the world's first
modern recognizable sprinkler system and was covered
by patent the same year. It was installed in the Theatre
Royal, Drury Lane in the United Kingdom.
• 1881 – Frederick Grinnell improved Henry S. Parmalee's
design and patented the automatic sprinkler under his
name.
• 1890 – Frederick Grinnell continued to improve the
device and invented the glass disc sprinkler
• 1940 – Sprinklers were installed almost exclusively for
the protection of commercial buildings whose owners
were generally able to recoup their expenses with savings
in insurance costs.
• Since 1954, the design of fire sprinklers has remained
relatively untouched, with more of a focus being put onto
improving fire safety as a whole.
Fire Sprinkler Systems
• Over the years, fire sprinklers have become mandatory
safety equipment" in some parts of North America, in
certain occupancies, including newly constructed building
that subjects to the local building codes and enforcement.
a) Hospitals
b) Schools
c) Hotels
d) other public buildings
• However, outside of the US and Canada, sprinklers are
rarely mandated by building codes for normal hazard
occupancies which do not have large numbers of
occupants such as:
a) Factories
b) process lines
c) retail outlets
d) petrol stations
e) etc.
• Up until the year 2000, as a result of lobbying by a
combination of the National Fire Sprinkler Network, the
European Fire Sprinkler Network and the British
Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, sprinklers started to
become more commonly installed in newly constructed
hospitals, schools, hotels and other public buildings.
• Sprinklers are now commonly installed in other buildings
including schools and residential premises.
• Sprinklers have been in use in the United States since
1874, and were used in factory applications where fires at
the turn of the century were often catastrophic in terms
of both human and property losses. In the US, sprinklers
are today required in all new high rise and underground
buildings generally 75feet (23m) above or below fire
department access, where the ability of firefighters to
provide adequate hose streams to fires is limited.
• Eleven years later, in 2011, Wales became the first
country in the world to make the installation of fire
sprinklers mandatory in new homes, with their law coming
into effect during 2013.
Fire Sprinkler Systems
• Fire sprinkler system is an integrated network of
hydraulically designed piping system installed in a
building, structure or area with outlets arranged in a
systematic pattern which automatically discharges water
when activated by heat or combustion products from a
fire.
• Active Fire Protection (AFP) is a group of systems that
require some amount of action or motion in order to work
efficiently in the event of a fire. Actions may be manually
operated, like a fire extinguisher or automatic, like a
sprinkler, but either way they require some amount of
action.
• is an active fire protection method, consisting of a water
supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate
to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire
sprinklers are connected. Although historically, it is only
used in factories and large commercial buildings, systems
for homes and small buildings are now available at a cost-
effective price.
• Fire sprinkler systems are extensively used worldwide,
with over 40 million sprinkler heads fitted each year. In
buildings completely protected by fire sprinkler systems,
over 96% of fires were controlled by fire sprinklers alone.
• Sprinkler systems are proven lifesavers and can save a
business’ large sums of money by preventing a fire from
devastating facilities, equipment and inventory.
• Sprinklers may be required to be installed by building
codes, or may be recommended by insurance companies
to reduce potential property losses or business
interruption. Building codes in the United States for places
of assembly, generally over 100 persons, and places with
overnight sleeping accommodation such as hotels,
nursing, homes, dormitories, and hospitals usually require
sprinklers either under local building codes, as a condition
of receiving State and Federal funding or as a requirement
to obtain certification (essential for institutions who wish
to train medical staff).
• However, before you install a fire sprinkler system in
your business, it is helpful to understand the basic
options available to you. While there are several
configurations of fire sprinkler systems made by multiple
manufacturers, most of the commonly-used fire sprinkler
systems are: wet type/wet pipe and dry type/dry pipe
systems.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• is an international nonprofit organization devoted to
eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due
to fire, electrical and related hazards.
o NFPA 13 (Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems)
o NFPA 25 (Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and
Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection
Systems)
o FALAR 3: (Fire and Life Safety Assessment Report) -
Documentation on the required periodic
maintenance of the fire and life-safety features of the
facility – prepared by the building owner, his fire
safety officer/authorized representative.
Standard Regulations for the Installations of Sprinklers
1. Fire sprinklers shall be in accordance with NFPA 13.
2. Sprinklers and standpipe systems required by this code
shall be inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance
with NFPA 25. Records of conducted maintenance and
testing should be maintained and submitted together with
FALAR 3.
3. When a sprinkler system is out of service for more than 4
hours in a 24-hour period, the owner shall notify the
nearest fire station immediately upon discovery but not
later than 24 hours and a fire watch shall be assigned until
the sprinkler system has been returned to service.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
• (Kawanihan ng Pagtatanggol sa Sunog) is the government
fire service of the Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of
the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Republic Act No. 9514
- An Act establishing a comprehensive First Code of the
Philippines, repealing Presidential Decree No. 1185 and
for other purposes.
- Section 1: This Act shall be known as the “Fire Code of the
Philippines of 2008”
- Sprinkler System ‑ An integrated network of hydraulically
designed piping installed in a building, structure or area
with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which
automatically discharges water when activated by heat or
combustion products from a fire.
Fire Code of the Philippines - Sprinklers
• Chapter 2: Fire Safety in Buildings, Structures, and
Facilities, Division 19: Special Provision for High Rise
Buildings, Section 10.2.19.4: Sprinkler Systems
Protection
- High rise buildings shall be protected with approved,
supervised sprinkler systems designed and installed in
accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for Installation of
Sprinkler Systems. The approved, supervised sprinkler
systems must protect all floor spaces including every
closet and concealed spaces and plenums of certain
configuration and construction – particularly where
combustible materials are located such as exposed
electrical wiring, combustible duct work, and combustible
sound/thermal insulation. The system shall be
interconnected to a fire command center of the building.
• Chapter 3: Fire Safety for Hazardous Materials, Division
4: Specific Requirements, Section 10.3.4.1.3:
Combustible Commodities
- In the storage of combustible commodities, the following
factors shall be considered:
i. method and height of stock piling
ii. combustibility of materials
iii. fuel load and rate of spread; 4. areas and size
of piles
iv. aisle ways
v. water supply
vi. sprinkler protection
vii. building construction, including height and
area
viii. draft curtains
ix. roof vents
x. fire separations.
Commodity Classification handles, pedals, seats and tires. 240 Examples of Class
- The following classification of commodities shall be used III commodities include, but are not limited to, the
as a guide in determining sprinkler, venting, aisle spacing following:
and other fire safety requirements for high piled storage: i. Combustible fiberboard
a) Class I commodities are essentially noncombustible ii. Cork, baled
products on wooden or non-expanded polyethylene iii. Feeds, bagged
solid 239 deck pallets, in ordinary corrugated cartons iv. Fertilizers, bagged
with or without single-thickness dividers, or in v. Food in plastic containers
ordinary paper wrappings with or without pallets. vi. Furniture: wood, natural fiber,
Class I commodities are allowed to contain a limited upholstered, non-plastic
amount of Group “A” plastics. Examples of Class I vii. Wood or metal with plastic-padded and
commodities include, but are not limited to, the -covered arm rests
following: viii. Glycol in combustible containers not
i. Alcoholic beverages, with not exceeding 20- exceeding 25 percent
percent of alcohol ix. Lubricating or hydraulic fluid in metal
ii. Appliances noncombustible, electrical cans
iii. Cement in bags x. Lumber
iv. Ceramics xi. Mattresses, excluding foam rubber and
v. Dairy products in non wax-coated containers foam plastics
(excluding bottles) xii. Noncombustible liquids in plastic
vi. Dry insecticides containers having a capacity of more
vii. Foods in noncombustible containers than 5 gallons (19 ℓ)
viii. Fresh fruits and vegetables in non-plastic xiii. Paints, oil base, in metal cans
trays or containers xiv. Paper, waste, baled
ix. Frozen foods xv. Paper and pulp, horizontal storage, or
x. Glass vertical storage that is banded or
xi. Glycol in metal cans protected with approved wrap
xii. Gypsum board xvi. Paper in cardboard boxes
xiii. Inert materials, bagged xvii. Pillows, excluding foam rubber and
xiv. Insulation, noncombustible foam plastics
xv. Noncombustible liquids in plastic containers xviii. Plastic-coated paper food containers
having less than a 5-gallon (19 ℓ) capacity xix. Plywood
xvi. Noncombustible metal products xx. Rags, baled
b) Class II commodities are Class I products in slatted xxi. Rugs, without foam backing
wooden crates, solid wooden boxes, multiple- xxii. Sugar, bagged
thickness paperboard cartons or equivalent xxiii. Wood, baled
combustible packaging material with or without xxiv. Wood doors, frames and cabinets
pallets. Class II commodities are allowed to contain a xxv. Yarns of natural fiber and viscose
limited amount of Group “A” plastics. Examples of d) Class IV commodities are class I, II or III products
Class II commodities include, but are not limited to, containing Group “A” plastics in ordinary corrugated
the following: cartons, and class I, II and III products with group “A”
i. Alcoholic beverages, with not exceeding plastic packaging with or without pallets. Group “B”
20-percent alcohol, in combustible plastics and free-flowing Group “A” plastics are also
containers included in this class. Examples of Class IV
ii. Foods in combustible containers commodities include, but are not limited to, the
iii. Incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs following:
in cartons i. Alcoholic beverages, with more than 20-
iv. Thinly coated fine wire on reels or in percent but less than 80-percent
cartons alcohol, in cans, bottles, or cartons.
c) Class III commodities are commodities of wood, ii. Clothing, synthetic or non-viscose
paper, natural fiber cloth, or group C plastics or iii. Combustible metal products (solid)
products thereof, with or without pallets. Products iv. Furniture, plastic upholstered
are allowed to contain limited amounts of Group “A” v. Furniture, wood or metal with plastic
or “B” plastics, such as metal bicycles with plastic covering and padding 241
 vi. Glycol in combustible containers
(greater than 25 percent and less than
50 percent)
vii. Linoleum products
viii. Paints, oil-based in combustible
• The protection of combustible commodities six hundred
containers
forty centimeters (640 cm) and seven hundred sixty
ix. Pharmaceutical, alcoholic elixirs, tonics,
centimeters (760 cm) in height will require up to thirty
etc.
percent (30%) increase in the densities listed in the above
x. Rugs, foam back
table. Commodities piled more than seven hundred sixty
xi. Shingles, asphalt
centimeters (760 cm) in height will require multi-level
xii. Thread or yarn, synthetic or non-viscose
sprinkler application.
e) High-hazard commodities are high-hazard products
presenting special fire hazards beyond those of class
• Sprinkler system protecting combustible commodities
I, II, III or IV. Group “A” plastics not otherwise
shall be designed and installed to discharge the required
classified are included in this class. Examples of high-
water density within the following prescribed minimum
hazard commodities include, but are not limited to,
areas, except that areas shall be not less than three
the following:
hundred seventy square meters (370 m2) in calculating
i. Alcoholic beverages, with more than 80-
water flows when densities of less than one thousand one
percent alcohol, in bottles or cartons
hundred forty-one liters per minute per square meters
ii. Commodities of any class in plastic
(1,141L/(min. m2)) are specified.
containers in carousel storage
iii. Flammable solids (except solid
combustible metals)
iv. Glycol in combustible containers (50
percent or greater)
v. Lacquers, which dry by solvent
evaporation, in metal cans or cartons • The above-listed minimum areas are based on the
vi. Lubricating or hydraulic fluid in plastic regulations for roof venting, draft curtains, aisle spacing,
containers size pile and method of storage. Higher densities may be
vii. Mattresses, foam rubber or foam required in buildings that do not conform to these
plastics standards.
viii. Pallets and flats which are idle • Sprinkler system shall be designed to utilize sprinklers
combustible with ordinal temperature classification, except that
ix. Paper, asphalt, rolled, horizontal sprinklers with an intermediate 245 classification may be
storage used in the design of systems to protect high or very high
x. Paper, asphalt, rolled, vertical storage hazard occupancies.
xi. Paper and pulp, rolled, in vertical • A minimum clearance of one meter (1 m) shall be provided
storage which is unbanded or not between sprinkler deflectors and top of storage.
protected with an approved wrap • Draft curtains shall be provided to limit the area of
xii. Pillows, foam rubber and foam plastics sprinkler operation and to aid the operation of roof vents.
xiii. Pyroxylin
xiv. Rubber tires Design
xv. Vegetable oil and butter in plastic • Sprinkler systems are intended to either control the fire or
containers to suppress the fire.
• Control mode sprinklers are intended to control the heat
On Fire Protection release rate of the fire to prevent building structure
collapse, and pre-wet the surrounding combustibles to
• An approved, supervised sprinkler system shall be
prevent fire spread. The fire is not extinguished until the
required in each building or portion thereof used for
burning combustibles are exhausted or manual
storage of combustible commodities when the area extinguishment is effected by firefighters.
exceeds two-thirds of the sum of the basic floor area. • Suppression mode sprinklers are intended to result in a
Sprinkler discharge densities (liters/square meters) for severe sudden reduction of the heat release rate of the
combustible commodities not exceeding 640cm. in height fire, followed quickly by complete extinguishment, prior
shall conform to the following table: to manual intervention.
• Most sprinkler systems installed today are designed using
an area and density approach.
• First, the building use and building contents are analyzed
to determine the level of fire hazard. Usually buildings are
classified as:
a) light hazard - This classification applies to spaces
where the quantity of combustibles is low and/or the
combustibility of contents is low which would result
in relatively low rates of heat release if ignited.
Examples of spaces with a light hazard classification
might include offices, healthcare facilities, churches,
schools, etc.
b) ordinary hazard group 1 - This classification applies to
spaces in which the combustibility of materials
present is low and the quantity is moderate, with no
stockpiles of combustible material exceeding 8 feet
(2.4 meters). Examples of spaces with this
classification might include mechanical plants,
laundries, food processing facilities or other
manufacturing operations in which a fire would
release moderate rates of heat.
c) ordinary hazard group 2 - This classification applies to
spaces where the quantity and combustibility of
contents are moderate to high, and which may have
stockpiles of materials up to 12 feet high (3.7 meters)
that could release moderate rates of heat release if
ignited. Examples of this occupancy include
distilleries, barns and stables, dry cleaners, libraries,
machine rooms, and auto repair shops.
d) extra hazard group 1 - This classification applies to
spaces where the quantity and combustibility of
contents are very high and dust, lint, or other
materials are present, which introduce the probability
of fires that burn hot and spread fast, such as
upholstery shops, sawmills, plywood manufacturers,
or textile factories. This classification may include
spaces with some small amounts of combustible or
flammable liquids, but the classification is primarily
based on the presence of highly combustible solids.
e) extra hazard group 2 - This classification applies to
spaces in which moderate to substantial amounts of
flammable or combustible liquids are routinely
present or where there are large amounts of
combustibles, such that the extensive use of heat
shields are needed to keep them from igniting.
Examples of these include plastic manufacturing
operations, steel manufacturing, and automobile
paint spray booths.
• After determining the hazard classification, a design area
and density can be determined in accordance to National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
• The design area is a theoretical area of the building
representing the worst-case area where a fire could burn.
• The design density is a measurement of how much water
per square foot of floor area should be applied to the
design area.
• For example, in an office building classified as light hazard,
a typical design area would be 1,500 square feet (140 m2)
and the design density would be 0.1 US gallons per minute
(0.38 l/min) per 1 square foot (0.093 m2) or a minimum of
150 US gallons per minute (570 l/min) applied over the
1,500-square-foot (140 m2) design area.
• Another example would be a manufacturing facility
classified as ordinary hazard group 2 where a typical
design area would be 1,500 square feet (140 m2) and the
design density would be 0.2 US gallons per minute
(0.76 l/min) per 1 square foot (0.093 m2) or a minimum of
300 US gallons per minute (1,100 l/min) applied over the
1,500-square-foot (140 m2) design area.
• After the design area and density have been determined,
calculations are performed to prove that the system can
deliver the required amount of water over the required
design area. These calculations account for all of the
pressure that is lost or gained between the water supply
source and the sprinklers that would operate in the design
area. This includes pressure losses due to friction inside
the piping and losses or gains due to elevational
differences between the source and the discharging
sprinklers.
• Sometimes momentum pressure from water velocity
inside the piping is also calculated. Typically, these
calculations are performed using computer software but
before the advent of computer systems these sometimes
complicates calculations were performed by hand.
Operation and Installation
• In a standard wet-pipe sprinkler system, each sprinkler
activates independently when the predetermined heat
level is reached. Thus, only sprinklers near the fire will
operate, normally just one or two. This maximizes water
pressure over the point of fire origin, and minimizes water
damage to the building.
• A sprinkler activation will do less water damage than a
fire department hose stream, which provide
approximately 900 liters/min.
• A typical sprinkler used for industrial manufacturing
occupancies discharge about 75–150 liters/min.
• However, a typical Early Suppression Fast Response
(ESFR) sprinkler at a pressure of 50 psi (340 kPa) will
discharge approximately 380 liters/min. They are quick
responding, high volume sprinkler systems that provide
exception protection for high piled storage occupancies.
• In addition, a sprinkler will usually activate within one to
four minutes of the fire's start, whereas it typically takes
at least five minutes for a fire department to register an
alarm and drive to the fire site, and an additional ten
minutes to set up equipment and apply hose streams to
the fire. This additional time can result in a much larger
fire, requiring much more water to extinguish.
Wet Type Fire Sprinkler System
• Wet fire sprinkler systems are by far the most common,
simplest, and affordable sprinkler systems to install.
Because of their simplicity, they are very reliable and
 require less installation and maintenance. These are
usually the first choice in fire sprinkler systems because
they’re easy to work with, modify, and are often more
reliable with the only operating components being the
automatic sprinklers and (commonly, but not always) the
automatic alarm check valve. An automatic water supply
provides water under pressure to the system piping.
• Wet systems are frequently installed in factories
warehouses and Office buildings where the risk of freezing
ambient temperatures is negligible.
• Wet systems are the most common and reliable types of
sprinkler systems. This is because no equipment other
than the sprinkler heads are required to operate.
• Wet systems use automatic sprinkler heads attached to
piping containing water and connected to a water supply.
Water will be discharged immediately from an open
sprinkler.
• Is one in which water is constantly maintained within the
sprinkler piping. When a sprinkler activates, the water is
immediately discharged onto the fire.
• They are called wet pipe systems because they maintain
water inside the pipe network and sprinkler heads at all
times.
• The sprinkler heads in a wet system are connected to
pipes that are filled with water. The system automatically
activates when a fire is detected. Wet sprinkler systems
are the number one choice for most businesses because
they’re simple to use and require little maintenance. This
system type is also very reliable since the water is
automatically dispersed when a fire occurs.
• In wet pipe systems, the overhead sprinkler piping
connected is filled with water under pressure. When a fire
causes one or more of the connected sprinklers to
activate, water immediately discharges from the sprinkler
head.
• Wet fire sprinkler systems are by far the most common,
simplest, and affordable sprinkler systems to install.
Because of their simplicity, they are very reliable and
require less installation and maintenance. These are
usually the first choice in fire sprinkler systems because
they’re easy to work with, modify, and are often more
reliable with the only operating components being the
automatic sprinklers and (commonly, but not always) the
automatic alarm check valve. An automatic water supply
provides water under pressure to the system piping.
• Wet systems are the most common and reliable types of
sprinkler systems. This is because no equipment other
than the sprinkler heads are required to operate.
• Wet systems use automatic sprinkler heads attached to
piping containing water and connected to a water supply.
Water will be discharged immediately from an open
sprinkler.
• Is one in which water is constantly maintained within the
sprinkler piping. When a sprinkler activates, the water is
immediately discharged onto the fire.
• They are called wet pipe systems because they maintain
water inside the pipe network and sprinkler heads at all
times.
• The sprinkler heads in a wet system are connected to
pipes that are filled with water. The system automatically
activates when a fire is detected. Wet sprinkler systems
are the number one choice for most businesses because
they’re simple to use and require little maintenance. This
system type is also very reliable since the water is
automatically dispersed when a fire occurs.
• In wet pipe systems, the overhead sprinkler piping
connected is filled with water under pressure. When a fire
causes one or more of the connected sprinklers to
activate, water immediately discharges from the sprinkler
head.
How It Works
• A wet fire sprinkler system means that, at all times, the
overhead fire sprinkler piping is filled with pressurized
water. When a fire occurs and the heat activates the
sprinklers, water immediately sprays from the activated
sprinkler heads.
1. When a sprinkler opens, the discharging water
lifts the alarm valve clapper
2. And flows through the alarm port
3. To the retard chamber
4. When the retard chamber is filled, water flows to
the water motor alarm and/or the optional
pressure switch
5. Which signals an electric alarm bell
• Fully automated and requires no manual operation.
• In an emergency situation, the system can be manually
activated using the manual control station.
Straight Pipe (Shotgun) Riser – PICTURE 1
• This type of system does not have an alarm check valve. It
may have a riser check valve similar to the one shown
here.
• It has a main pipe, (Riser), being fed directly from the
water supply. The Riser goes through a main shut off valve
which is usually an OS&Y or Butterfly valve. There will be
a 2" main drain immediately above the main control valve.
On this drawing, the main drain is part of the riser check
valve.
• Retard times on the water flow switches are generally set
for 30-40 seconds.
• The AHJ or engineer may require a different retard time.
The retard is needed to prevent false alarms due to water
surges. The water flow switch will trip after a continuous
flow of at least 10gpm for the length of time the retard is
set for.
• These systems MUST use a vane [paddle] type of flow
switch. There is no way to use a pressure switch on these
types of systems.
• Potter recommends that the water flow switch be
installed at least 24" above the check valve or shut off
valve. This is to prevent any turbulence caused by the
valves from affecting the operation of the switch.
• If the system has a riser check valve similar to the one
shown here, there may be two gauges, 1 indicates the
 supply pressure and the other indicates the system
pressure.
• The system gauge will usually read higher than the supply
gauge, this is because any pressure increases in the supply
line should be captured by the check valve, so if the supply
pressure drops, the system pressure should stay the same.
The system gauge should not go down. If the two gauges
always read the same, the check valve may not be holding
Branch Lines – PICTURE 2
• This represents a typical branch line on a multi-story
building. The riser comes up and branches off on every
floor. There is a shut off valve for the branch, so that, that
section can be shut off if necessary and the rest of the
system will remain operational.
• There will be a flow switch for each branch line along with
test and drain valves.
• Frequently the test & drain assembly will be immediately
after the flow switch as shown here. Occasionally the test
valve will be located at the end of the branch line.
• The inspectors test valve is supposed to simulate the
smallest sprinkler head on the branch. The valve should
also be labeled "INSPECTORS TEST VALVE"
• PICTURE 3
• When the inspectors test valve is opened, it simulates an
opening of the smallest sprinkler on that line. If the valve
is left open for the amount of time the retard is set for, the
flow switch will trip.
• There may be a sightglass on the system so that the water
can be observed while it is flowing.
Wet Systems with Alarm Check Valves
• Ways to monitor for water flow on a system with an
alarm valve:
1. A Pressure type flow switch installed on top of a
retard chamber: - PICTURE 4
- An alarm check valve is basically a check valve with an
alarm port. The main purpose of the alarm check valve is
to ring a mechanical bell called a water motor gong. The
valve should, (if properly maintained), help hold the
system pressure steady and reduce the possibility of false
alarms. Under normal circumstances, the clapper of the
valve is closed, blocking the alarm port, maintaining the
system pressure, and preventing the sprinkler system
water from leaking back into the city supply. When a
sprinkler opens due to fire, or there is a large surge in the
city pressure, the clapper of the valve opens. The alarm
port is now exposed to the incoming water supply. When
the pressure at the PS10 reaches 6psi, the pressure switch
trips.
- These systems can use a vane type flow switch with a
retard or they can use a pressure type flow switch. The
pressure type flow switch would be installed on the alarm
port, in line with a water motor gong if one is being used.
The pressure switch must be installed on top of a retard
chamber to prevent false alarms due to water surges.
- Retard chambers are metal containers that fill with water
when there is a surge in city pressure. They absorb the
pressure increase thereby allowing the pressure switch to
only operate in an actual alarm condition.
- PICTURE 5
- Here the clapper of the valve is opening allowing water to
flow into the alarm port, and the retard chamber is
starting to fill. If this were just a surge in the supply, the
retard chamber would only partially fill. The pressure at
the PS10 would not reach 6psi so the device would not
trip.
- There must be an automatic drain on this line to allow the
water to drain and the pressure to drop back to zero so
the pressure switch can reset after a surge or activation of
the alarm valve.
- Since the retard chambers are metal containers that are
constantly getting wet and drying out, they require
maintenance to make sure that the drain stays clear and
doesn't get clogged with rust or corrosion. If a surge does
not drain from the retard chamber before another surge
happens, the retard chamber may fill causing the pressure
switch to send a false alarm.
- On the left side of the alarm valve there is a bypass line
with a check valve and 2 pressure gauges. This allows small
surges to flow through here to build up the system
pressure causing excessive wear and tear on the clapper
of the alarm valve. The gauges show the system pressure
and the supply pressure, The system gauge will usually
read higher than the supply gauge, it should never read
lower. The 2 gauges will read the same immediately after
a surge in supply pressure and until the supply pressure
drops back down. If the system gauge drops down with
the supply gauge, the clapper of the alarm check valve is
not seating properly and needs to be serviced.
2. A Pressure type flow switch with a built-in retard: -
PICTURE 6
- This is the same type of system except this one uses a
pressure switch with a built-in retard instead of installing
the pressure switch on top of the retard chamber. In this
case the retard chamber is only being used to delay the
water motor gong. If there is no water motor gong, the
retard chamber can be eliminated.
- The retard time will start when the pressure at the WFSR-
F reaches 6psi. The pressure must remain there for the
length of time the retard is set in order for the device to
trip.
- Pressure type flow switches can be installed without
disabling the sprinkler system. Since they are installed on
the alarm port, there is no pressure or water present
under normal conditions. The sprinkler system does not
have to be drained, they can be installed without shutting
off the water supply. Therefore, the sprinkler system is
never out of service.
- A pressure switch with a built-in retard allows the system
to remain operational at all times, and eliminates the
maintenance required on the retard chamber. An
 automatic drain is still required to relieve the pressure on
the line.
- Note: All water control valves should be supervised.
- Pressure type flow switches must be installed before any
shut off valve, or such valve must be electronically
supervised if the sprinkler system is required to be
supervised in accordance with NFPA72
- PICTURE 7
- Here a sprinkler fused so the alarm valve will remain open
due to water flowing from the supply out through the
open sprinkler.
- The water filled the retard chamber and is being
discharged through the water motor gong.
- The WFSR-F tripped because there was pressure in the
alarm line for the length of time the retard was set.
- The BVS is a supervised ball valve that is used as an alarm
shutoff valve for the WFSR-F and water motor gong.
• VIDEO 1 - The wet alarm valve is designed for applications
where the water is unlikely to freeze. The water staying
pressurized in the pipes is released over the fire area after
the sprinkler is activated due to fire.
Corrosion on Wet Pipe System
• Wet pipe systems are filled with pressurized stagnant
water. In a steel (or iron) pipe filled with truly stagnant
water, the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water
is quickly consumed by the cathodic corrosion reactions.
o Cathodic reaction – this includes oxygen
reduction and hydrogen evolution, removing
electrons from the metal.
- Within a few weeks of system fill, the concentration of
dissolved oxygen is effectively zero. Because the reduction
of dissolved oxygen is the controlling cathodic reaction in
waters with a near neutral or basic pH, once the dissolved
oxygen concentration drops to low levels, the corrosion
reactions effectively stop.
- Theoretically, a six-inch steel pipe stub that was 1) filled
with potable water, with no air gaps, and 2) capped on
both ends with an air tight seal, and 3) buried in the Gobi
Desert, with no external corrosion possible, could be dug
up in 1,000 years and have little or no wall loss.
• Installation and operation of sprinkler pipes is more
complex. Periodic system flow in accordance with NFPA
25 requirements leads to the re-introduction of
oxygenated water that re-starts the corrosion processes,
until the dissolved oxygen is consumed. Typically, the
infrequency of these water flow events does not
significantly affect system. Rather, the more common
problem is attributable to original system installation. Air
pockets are commonly created during system
construction. These are difficult to remove during system
fill. If air pockets exist, they tend to provide a continuous
supply of dissolved oxygen to the water near the air-water
interface. Typically, the presence of an air pocket will lead
to on-going cathodic reactions where the dissolved
oxygen is available. The anodic reaction (ionization and
dissolution of iron atoms) occurs just beyond the cathodic
cell established by the air pocket. Highly localized and
aggressive corrosion conditions can be established that
lead to rapid through-wall pitting/pitting corrosion and
perforations. This is probably the most common form of
corrosion failure in wet-pipe sprinkler systems.
o Anodic reaction – a metal is oxidized, releasing
electrons into the metal.
There are three possible fixes for air-pocket driven corrosion:
1. Identify locations within the system where gasses are
likely to collect and try to eliminate air-pocket collection
points. These would be geometrical high spots in the
system where gas bubbles would tend to collect: e.g., a
location where two pipe segments are angled toward one
another to create a high spot, at the top of a capped riser
pipe, or at an upwardly sloped dead leg.
2. If you cannot eliminate air-pocket collection points,
automatic air vents can be installed at those spots. The
vents “burp” the system and remove air to allow complete
system fill. As noted earlier, if all of the air is removed from
the system and the system is completely filled with water,
then once the dissolved oxygen concentration is depleted,
corrosion reactions will effectively stop.
3. Recently, a new nitrogen purging technology has been
introduced to the wet-pipe market. The technology
attempts to purge the piping system of air with nitrogen
before filling with water. The theoretical concept is to
displace and remove oxygen from the system, so that gas
pockets trapped within the system do not contain oxygen
— and therefore there is no source for dissolved oxygen
to continue corrosion. It is a sound theory — but the
verdict is still out on actual application. For this technology
to be successful, the nitrogen purge must be successful in
completely removing oxygen from all parts of the system
including the gas trap locations. It is unclear whether that
can be practically accomplished in all (or any) systems.
Bubbling nitrogen through the system once it is filled with
water is unlikely to be helpful. The nitrogen bubbles
introduced would have to diffuse through the system to
all of the gas collection points and displace the existing
oxygen, which is unlikely to occur.
Wet Type Fire Sprinkler System can be broken down into 3
sub-systems:
a) Wet Pipe Fire Sprinkler System
b) Pre-Action Fire Sprinkler System
c) Fire Extinguishers
Wet Pipe Fire Sprinkler System
• The system comprises a network of above ground,
hydraulically designed piping with sprinklers attached in a
systematic pattern. It is activated by heat from a fire that
breaks the sprinkler bulb and discharges water at
adequate pressure and flow over the fire area.
Pre-Action Fire Protection
• Pre-action systems are used in electrical substation rooms
where accidental water discharge should be avoided. The
 system reduces time delay of water delivery to sprinklers.
If a sprinkler operates prior to fire detection or the piping
system develops a leak, loss of air pressure in the piping
will activate a trouble alarm. In this case, the pre-action
valve will remain closed and water will not enter the
piping.
Portable Fire Extinguisher
• Consist of a hand-held, cylindrical pressure vessel
containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish
a small fire.
• It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as
one which reached the ceiling or otherwise requires the
expertise of a fire department.
• Valve Assembly Cabinet – has integral control panel and
back-up batteries.
• Pre-Action Deluge Valves – diaphragm type and used as
automatic water control valves
• Pre-Action Control Panel
➢ Pre-Action Manual Control Station – provides
emergency release of the deluge valves
➢ Shut-off Valve – a BFV-N Butterfly valve
• Riser Check Valve – prevents backflow
• Wet Pipe Alarm Check Valve – automatically activates the
hydraulic alarm when the flow indicates sprinkler
discharge.
• Pre-action Solenoid Valve – controls water release and
works in conjunction with the electric releasing panel.
• Pressure Alarm Switch – detects changes in pressure
• Flow Switch – is activated when a flow of 38 liters/min or
more occurs downstream of the device
• Pre-Action Automatic Shut-off Valve – prevents
inadvertent resetting of the DV-5 valve after initial
operation
• Pre-Action Automatic Drain Valve – automatically drains
alarm lines. Any leakage or discharge from the valve is an
indication of the problem within the dry pipe or pre-action
valve
• Pre-Action Supervisory Air Supply – designed to maintain
pressure for pre-action sprinkler system.
• Retard Chamber – prevents false alarms due to pressure
variations. To prevent false alarms due to variable water
supplies, the retard chamber, collects small surges of
eater which flow through the alarm port during pressure
fluctuations.
• Test / Drain Valve – is used to drain and conduct routine
tests on the sprinkler system. Its dual-purpose design
enables system draining when that's needed while also
aiding required testing.
- By moving the lever to the test position, the function of
the sprinkler system can be tested without breaking a
sprinkler. During testing, the valve discharges the same
amount of water that would be discharged by a sprinkler
- By moving the lever to the drain position, the entire wet
sprinkler system can be drained. The valve also contains a
sight glass to monitor the flow of water.
• Double Check Detector Assembly – consists of 2
independently operating, spring loaded check valves, 2UL,
FM, OS&Y resilient seated gates and bypass assembly.
• Water Motor Alarm – hydraulically operated outdoor
alarm which is activated by a flow of water, when the
water started flowing.
- Needed only if we have at least 20 sprinkles installed in a
wet pipe system.
• Post Indicator Assembly – is an underground gate valve
and it isolates fire protection system from main water
network
• Fire Department Connection – used as auxiliary
connections for local fire department to supplement
water supplies.
- No need to install if:
a) If your building is not exceeding 185 (square-meter).
b) Remote areas
• Butterfly Valve - is a quarter-turn rotational motion valve,
that is used to stop, regulate, and start flow. Butterfly
valves are easy and fast to open. A 90° rotation of the
handle provides a complete closure or opening of the
valve.
Sprinkler glass bulbs with different operating temperatures
• Each closed-head sprinkler is held closed by either a heat-
sensitive glass bulb or a two-part metal link held together
with fusible alloy.
• The glass bulb or link applies pressure to a pipe cap which
acts as a plug which prevents water from flowing until the
 ambient temperature around the sprinkler reaches the
design activation temperature of the individual sprinkler
head.
• When the ceiling temperature reaches a specific level, the
liquid inside will expand, causing the glass to break.
• Because some industrial environments operate at
temperatures higher than normal, it’s necessary that
some fire sprinkler heads are capable of resisting higher
temperatures before exploding.
• The liquid within the ampule of the sprinkler head is a
mixture of alcohol and water or glycerin and water. The
% of each is changed to determine the activation
temperature of the head. The color is from a dye and
indicates the activation temperature.
• There are also fire sprinkler heads that use fusible links. A
fusible link sprinkler head consists of an element
composed of two metal parts, welded with a heat-
sensitive alloy holding a pip cap in place. This element acts
as a valve that when the temperature reaches a specific
level, the alloy loses consistency and then releases the
metallic parts, causing the pip cap to fall away and
allowing the flow of water.
• 4 Types Sprinkler heads
a) Pendent Fire Sprinkler Head
b) Upright Fire Sprinkler Head
c) Sidewall Fire Sprinkler Head
d) Concealed Fire Sprinkler Head
2 VIDEOS – Sprinkler head and Guy speaking
Advantages
• Their mechanisms are quite simple, meaning, installation
and maintenance is easy and affordable, and the system is
more reliable. Furthermore, since the pressurized water is
always filling the pipes, the water is there instantaneously
when it’s needed.
• System simplicity and reliability - Wet pipe sprinkler
systems have the least number of components and
therefore, the lowest number of items to malfunction.
This produces unexcelled reliability which is important
since sprinklers may be asked to sit in waiting for many
years before they are needed. This simplicity aspect also
becomes important in facilities where system
maintenance may not be performed with the desired
frequency.
• Relative low installation and maintenance expense - Due
to their overall simplicity, wet pipe sprinklers require the
least amount of installation time and capital. Maintenance
cost savings are also realized since less service time is
generally required compared to other system types. These
savings become important when maintenance budgets
are shrinking.
• Ease of modification - Wet pipe fire sprinkler systems are
advantageous since modifications involve shutting down
the water supply, draining pipes and making alterations.
Following the work, the system is pressure tested and
restored. Additional work for detection and special
control equipment is avoided which again saves time and
expense.
• Short term down time following a fire - Wet pipe sprinkler
systems require the least amount of effort to restore. In
most instances, sprinkler protection is reinstated by
replacing the fused sprinklers and turning the water
supply back on. Pre-action and dry-pipe systems may
require additional effort to reset control equipment.
• Simple and less expensive – wet pipe systems are
straightforward in design and operation. There are fewer
components than other system types, and that makes
installation and maintenance both easier and less costly.
• Instantaneous availability – since wet pipe systems
maintain a ready water supply inside the pipes and
sprinkler heads, they are able to spray water on a fire
immediately after activation.
• Increased durability – since the pipes are completely filled
with water that serves as a barrier against rust formation,
this helps ensure that wet pipe systems are less likely to
need major repairs or renovation for a significant amount
of time.
Disadvantages
• Vulnerability to freezing – since wet pipe systems are
constantly filled with water, they can freeze if the pipe
network is placed in exposed areas. Pipe insulation can
help mitigate this possibility, but it also adds to the
expense of installation.
- They are not suited for sub-freezing environments. It
cannot be used in any structures where the temperatures
will drop to 40°F or 4.44°C or below due to freezing risks.
• Need for constant pressure – wet pipe systems require a
constant water supply in order to operate. In situations
where water supplies can be unpredictable, this can be a
problem and may require the installation of water pumps
to keep the pressure at an acceptable level.
• There may also be a concern where piping is subject to
severe impact damage and could consequently leak.
Damage to piping or sprinklers will likely result in water
leaks, subsequent water damage, and extensive property
damage. Also, it is not ideal for protecting spaces that
have house sensitive equipment or documents.