How To Repair Frozen Fire_sprinkler

CAN Burn SPRINKLERS FREEZE?

As the temperatures drop beneath freezing throughout much of the land, the risk of freezing water pipes is on many peoples' minds. We've all heard the risks and seen the damage of a frozen water pipe bursting, but what about the pipes in a fire sprinkler system? Can they freeze and can they be "winterized"?

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FIRE SPRINKLERS AREN'T WINTERIZED. THEY'RE MAINTAINED.

If you piece of work with a reputable burn sprinkler company, like Koorsen Fire & Security, then your fire sprinklers should be prepared for whatever harsh elements during their annual scheduled maintenance and inspections. Don't be fooled past companies offering "winterization" for your fire sprinklers as cold conditions grooming should already exist part of regular maintenance, if required.

If the temperature in the expanse where your fire sprinkler system is located doesn't get below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, then there is no need to worry about the sprinkler pipes freezing. If the sprinkler arrangement is in an area that may experience freezing temperatures, then there are steps that should exist taken to reduce the take a chance of the sprinkler system freezing. The steps to take depend on the blazon of fire sprinkler organization you take installed.

THE TWO TYPES OF FIRE SPRINKLERS

Reducing the risk of your fire sprinkler organization freezing depends on the type of fire sprinkler organization installed. The blazon that is found inside many businesses is a moisture organization. In a moisture organization, the pipes of the sprinkler organisation are full of h2o. In one case a sprinkler head is activated by the heat of a fire, the water sprays out, similar to what would happen when turning on a faucet.

The 2nd blazon of sprinkler organisation is a dry system, which can typically exist found in parking garages and warehouses where the temperatures tin can drop beneath freezing. In a dry organisation, the pipes are pressurized with air that holds the water back from the main water line. When a sprinkler is activated, the air is released, which allows the h2o to menses through the pipes and out the sprinkler head.

While dry out systems are less susceptible to freezing compared to wet systems in cold atmospheric condition conditions, they are yet capable of freezing. This is due to the fact that the air in the pipes contains moisture, which tin condense in the depression points of the pipes and freeze. Due to the differences in the systems, they each crave their own unique steps to reduce the risk of freezing.

Cold Atmospheric condition PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE FOR Moisture FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

While most wet fire sprinkler systems are installed in buildings where the temperature won't drop below 50 degrees, there are certain applications where they may be susceptible to freezing, similar when part of the wet system is run out to an unheated garage or area that is exposed to the elements.

To keep the water within the pipes of a wet fire sprinkler organization from freezing in areas where the temperature may drop beneath l degrees, an antifreeze loop is added. By calculation antifreeze to the water in the fire sprinkler pipes, the freezing signal is much lower, reducing the risk of the pipes freezing.

During the annual inspection, the fire sprinkler professional person volition accept examination samples from the burn down sprinkler system to ensure the proper concentration of antifreeze is in the water. If the proper concentration of antifreeze is not sustained, it could atomic number 82 to a frozen or outburst burn down sprinkler piping.

Cold WEATHER PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE FOR DRY FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

A dry fire sprinkler system'southward pipes aren't full of h2o, like in a wet system, which means there's no need for antifreeze. The dry arrangement is full of air that contains moisture and tin can condense in the low points of the system, which can freeze and burst the pipes.

To prepare for the colder temperatures in the wintertime, a fire sprinkler professional will check and drain the low points of the system where drains are located to dispose of the condensation. The fire sprinkler technician will also check the pitch or bending of the pipes to the drains to make certain that the condensation flows properly to the low point drains. If the pitch isn't correct, the condensation can collect elsewhere in the pipes where it could be at risk of freezing in the winter.

During the warmer months, the burn down sprinkler professional will perform an annual inspection which may include flushing the fire sprinkler organization. After flushing the system with water to ensure the system is operating properly, the pipes are then blown out with air to dry them. One time all the pipes have been stale out, they are sealed and pressurized with air. A professional person will commonly recommend that the low points are checked and drained every few days after flushing, due to the increased moisture in the newly pressurized lines.

WHAT Tin I Practise TO LOWER THE Adventure OF SPRINKLERS FREEZING?

While there isn't much else that is needed beyond regular draining and inspections of dry systems, in that location are additional steps that one can take to prevent a wet system from freezing and bursting.

The one and only danger to a moisture fire sprinkler system (without an antifreeze loop) freezing, is the temperature. The temperature where the wet fire sprinkler system is installed should not driblet below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. You need to ensure the edifice rut is working in all areas where the fire sprinkler system is located. One of the most common causes of a moisture burn sprinkler arrangement freezing is that the heat in a building is accidentally turned off or loses power.

If in that location are vents that are blocked or shut off, open them to allow the rut to disperse and warm the room or area where the fire sprinkler organisation is located. Areas that pose the greatest hazard for freezing are attics, stairwells, skylights, entryways, and under floors. If you can't command the temperatures in these areas or seal off the cold air leaks, you should insulate the pipes.

While the fire sprinkler professional should inspect every part of the fire sprinkler arrangement for potential exposure to freezing temperatures and accost those issues, it'south nonetheless a good idea to regularly audit the areas where the system is installed for cold temperatures. Broken windows, loose siding, damaged roofs, and other changes in a building's exterior can quickly result in a large drib in temperature around the pipes of a burn down sprinkler system.

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Go YOUR Burn SPRINKLERS INSPECTED TODAY

If y'all haven't had your burn sprinkler system serviced and inspected inside the past yr, you should telephone call a Koorsen technician to ensure your sprinkler organization is working properly and is not at risk of freezing. Regular inspections and maintenance are ever the cheapest and easiest way to avoid impairment from the wintertime cold. Contact a Koorsen Fire & Security associate today to schedule an inspection of your fire protection arrangement.

Topics: Fire Sprinkler Systems

Source: https://blog.koorsen.com/2017/02/cold-weather-preventive-maintenance-fire-sprinklers

Posted by: joneshearating.blogspot.com

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