Sprinkler systems are the usual choice for putting out or controlling fire in large buildings with many occupants, shopping centres, storage areas and factories. Their most obvious feature is the wide area they cover: they work automatically and only in the zone where there is a fire.
They are also used where valuable or critical materials and equipment must not be damaged by accidental discharge or leaks. In a pre-action system, if a sprinkler head or pipe is damaged, water does not enter the pipework; it is released only when the detection system confirms a fire in addition to a sprinkler head operating.
Product groups
Fire sprinklers
- Standard response sprinklers
- Quick response sprinklers
- Storage sprinklers
- Large-drop and extended-coverage sprinklers
- Dry sprinklers
- Residential sprinklers
Valves
- Wet alarm valves
- Dry alarm valves
- Deluge and pre-action valves
- OS&Y (rising stem) gate valves
- NRS (non-rising stem) gate valves
- Butterfly valves
- Pressure relief valves
- Pressure reducing valves and check valves
- Ball valves
- Angle and gate valves
- Backflow preventers
- Air relief valves
Switches and sensors
- Water flow switches
- Pressure alarm switches
- Tamper switches
Fire cabinets
- Fire hose assembly (reel type)
- Fire hose assembly (rack type)
- Hose valves
Pipe fittings
- Underground pipe fittings
- Aboveground pipe fittings
Pipe hangers
- Pipe hangers
- Hanger accessories
Seismic bracing
- Universal seismic bracing
- Lateral and longitudinal sway bracing
- Four-way sway bracing
- Dilatation (expansion) system
- Seismic steel and rope systems
Other equipment
- Fire hose
- Hose reel and water mist nozzles
- Portable extinguishers
- Flow meters
- Pressure gauges
- Roadway box
- Post indicators
Fire hydrants
- Aboveground hydrants
- Underground hydrants
- Dry barrel hydrants
- Wet barrel hydrants
- Wall hydrants
Deluge systems
When the detection system operates, water is discharged at once from all open sprinklers or nozzles and wets the whole protected area. Deluge systems are used where there is a high fire risk and a large amount of water is needed suddenly. The pipework contains air or water at atmospheric pressure.
- Open sprinklers or nozzles are used. After the system is triggered, water flows from all heads at the same time.
- A separate detection system in the protected area triggers the system.
- When the detectors activate, the whole system fills with pressurised water.
Release methods: electric detector release, wet pilot sprinkler line release, or dry pilot sprinkler line release.
Pre-action systems
The pipework is filled with supervised air pressure. Closed sprinklers are used, and each sprinkler operates on its own only when its heat-sensitive element releases. A separate detection system in the protected area triggers the system, which works in two stages.
- Single interlock: one detection system activation is enough.
- Double interlock: both the supervising air system and the electrically actuated detectors must operate. It is preferred where accidental water discharge is unacceptable, such as cold stores or electrical rooms.
First stage: the detectors trigger the control valve, and the pipework fills with pressurised water.
Second stage: when temperature rises, the heat-sensitive element of a sprinkler releases and the sprinkler discharges.