Wet or Dry system?
Wet Pipe Fire Sprinkler System
Wet pipe systems are the most common fire sprinkler system.
A wet pipe system’s pipes are filled with water constantly maintained within the sprinkler piping. When a sprinkler activates this water is immediately discharged onto the fire.
Advantages- System simplicity and reliability
- Relative low installation and maintenance expense
- Ease of modification
- Short term down time following a fire
Dry Pipe Fire Sprinkler System
Typical dry pipe installations include unheated warehouses and attics, outside exposed loading docks and within commercial freezers.
A dry pipe sprinkler system’s pipes are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen, instead of water. The air holds a remote valve, known as a dry pipe valve, in closed position. Located in a heated space, the dry-pipe valve prevents water from entering the pipe until a fire causes one or more sprinklers to operate. When this happens, the air escapes and the valve releases, water then enters the pipe, flowing through open sprinklers, and onto the fire.
Advantages
- Offers automatic protection in spaces where freezing
- Possibly advantageous for protection of collections and other water sensitive areas
