Information File

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BIF No 15
Types of Sprinkler Systems

The purpose of this Information File (BIF) is to Depending upon the design requirements and the
explain the types of sprinkler system, what they environment in which the system is installed,
are called, how they work and why they have different configuration of valves will be used.
different uses and applications. This BIF explains the type of systems and how
they are configured and work.
Control Valve Set
The supply of water to a sprinkler installation is Types of Systems
controlled by a set of valves. The valve set varies A wet-pipe system is where all the pipes leading
according to the type of installation. There are from the water supply, through the various
two principal valves, the main stop valve and the control valves and on to the sprinkler heads, are
alarm valve. permanently filled with water under pressure.

The main stop valve controls water entering the Wet type sprinkler systems are the most common
installation. It is a handwheel-operated valve and type installed. They are used in heated buildings,
should be kept locked in its fully open position where there is no possibility of the water freezing
by a padlocked or riveted strap. It should be ie where the ambient temperature remains above
located in a position which is readily accessible, 5°C.
preferably near a building's main entrance.
Nearby, on an outside wall, should be the sign: The ambient temperature should not exceed
70°C.

SPRINKLER
STOP VALVE
INSIDE
The alarm valve is located immediately above the
main stop valve. Its function is to open soon
after a sprinkler head is activated and water flows
in an installation, some water being diverted to
drive an alarm motor, which is a water turbine
(1) Jyitero Noma!
that rotates and causes a clapper to strike a gong
and dius raise the alarm.

Sprinkler Installatkm Wf Pi

- Sealed SPRINKLER HEADS (can be any response rating)

f f •\j

m
Abo referred to as:
(8) Water Mater Alarm »o»t Oatrat.i
Alarm Valves, I.C.V., Sprinkler Control Valve,
Alarm Check Valve, Sprinkler Valve
Wet systems are capable of delivering water to Tail end alternate or tail end dry-pipe
the fire as soon as a sprinkler head operates. systems are essentially wet-pipe installations in
This is the preferred type of system to install. which a part of the system, the tail end (in
conditions, for example, where it is liable to
9 freeze), is dry or alternate wet and dry. They are

! •! 1
commonly used in loading bays and under
canopies.

A pre-action sprinkler system is a dry-pipe

I«l> *
system linked to an automatic fire detection
system which protects the same area. Operation
starts when a heat or smoke detector in the
detection system activates, (which will usually
happen quicker than a sprinkler head). At this
point a 'pre-action' valve opens to allow water
to flow into the sprinkler pipework before the
first sprinkler head operates. Discharge of water
Dry pipe sprinkler installations are appropriate will not occur until a sprinkler head operates.
for applications either where there is a danger This type of system is quite often used in water
of the water in the pipes freezing or in sensitive areas such as electrical equipment
situations where there may be temperatures rooms and computer suites.
above about 70°C.

In a dry-pipe system the pipes on the 'active' Deluge System

side of the installation control valves are These systems are commonly fitted with open
charged with air which is under sufficient nozzles or projectors and are triggered from
pressure to prevent the entry of water into the air/water detection lines or some kind of
detection system.
TYPICAL
DRY PIPE
SPRINKLER
SYSTEM

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delivery pipework. Once the first sprinkler head

operates the compressed air escapes through
the head and water follows.

Deluge systems provide water to a network of

Alternate wet and dry systems are just that. open nozzles which could be for local
They can operate as either type and the normal application or protection to a specific high risk
configuration is of protecting with a wet-pipe plant area. Other risks would include such
installation in the summer and a dry-pipe situations as tanker loading bays, flammable gas
installation in winter. These are used in car tanks, oil storage reservoirs, oil lines, power
parks, loading bays and any building where the generation plants etc.
temperature cannot be guaranteed to stay above
freezing. The temperature should not exceed There are a variety of sprinkler and nozzles used
70°C. with deluge type systems. They can be standard
 What System to Choose?
From the early days of standardisation in the
design of sprinkler systems for installation in the
United Kingdom, an understanding of the
hazards to be protected by a system has been a
principal factor influencing system choice and
design. The current edition of the LPC R/iks for
Automatic Sprinkler Installations, the industry bible
which is based on BS EN 12845, links definitions
of hazard classifications to corresponding design
requirements. The BS EN is the European
Standard on system design and installation,
published for the UK by the British Standards
(4) Wtltc Open Completely Institution; the LPC Rides, published by the Fire
Protection Association, enjoy the support and
endorsement of the insurance industry, specifiers,
government departments and installation
installers.

Premises which have been assessed and are

deemed to have more hazardous conditions
would require a system to deliver:

(a) a higher density of water discharge (in

terms of mm depth of water over a given
floor area per minute),
(b) over a longer time period and, possibly,
(c) over a greater assumed area of operation.

To achieve these objectives the designer would

calculate the need to:
sprinklers, high and low velocity nozzles or
directional nozzles. (d) reduce the area protected by each
individual sprinkler head,
There are other variations upon the types
described above; elaborations upon the basic (e) specify the use of sprinkler heads with
types are a matter for the sprinkler system an increased orifice size,
designer in consultation with his clients and their (f) increase the capacity of stored water
insurers, or with the authority having jurisdiction.
supplies and/or the output of the pumps
driving the water through the system, and
(g) increase the pressure/flow requirements
of the pipework.

Each of considerations (e) to (g), in that simple

example, will have a bearing on other aspects of
the system which the designer needs to plan to
protect the risk in question. The conditions
prevailing in the premises to be protected will
influence the designer's choice of type of system.
 Facts about Fire Sprinklers:
• Since 1945 no one in the UK has
ever died as a result of a fire in a
public building with a working
sprinkler system.
Most fires in sprinkler protected
buildings are extinguished by
eight or fewer sprinkler heads
operating.
Only the sprinkler heads in the
WET type control valves
immediate vicinity of the fire
actually operate.
Sprinklered buildings prevent fire
fighter deaths.
Sprinklers do not 'false alarm'
they will only operate if there is an
actual fire.
For a very small cost an alarm
switch can be built-in to the
system to call the fire service
automatically should the
sprinklers operate
DRY type control valves Maintenance costs for sprinklers
are very low and the systems
have a very long service life
Sprinklers save lives - and
property - and are the only
devices which can detect a fire,
sound the alarm, call the fire
brigade and extinguish or control
the fire.
Despite preconceptions,
sprinklers are not difficult or
expensive to install and are not
unsightly.
ALTERNATE type control valve Sprinkler systems installed in full
compliance with third party
certification standards will usually
attract insurance premium
discounts.

Presented by:
r

PREACTION type control valve < J

British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Ltd

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