Wet Systems – The Most Common Fire Protection Solution
Wet sprinkler systems are the most widely used automatic fire protection systems, particularly suitable for environments where temperatures remain stable and freezing does not occur, such as office buildings, shopping malls, residential buildings, and hospitals.
Key Features:
- The system pipes are always filled with water, and when the sprinkler head detects a temperature rise to the set threshold, it immediately activates and discharges water to suppress the fire.
- Since the pipes are pre-filled with water, the system provides a fast response time, making it suitable for most indoor environments.
- The maximum coverage area per control valve is 9000m², or 4500m² for rack storage systems.
- Water Supply: Typically connected to the town’s main water supply, utilizing municipal water pressure for fire suppression. If water pressure is insufficient, booster pumps or fire water tanks may be required to ensure a stable water supply.
Wet systems are easy to maintain and highly reliable, making them the preferred fire protection solution for most buildings.
Dry Systems – Ideal for Cold or High-Temperature Environments
In certain special environments, such as cold storage facilities, outdoor parking garages, boiler rooms, and high-temperature industrial areas, water may freeze or evaporate, affecting the system’s effectiveness. In these cases, dry systems are the preferred solution.
Key Features:
- The pipes are filled with air or an inert gas instead of water. When the sprinkler head detects high temperatures and opens, the control valve releases water into the pipes, allowing it to flow to the sprinkler heads.
- Since water must first enter the pipes before being discharged, the response time is slightly slower than that of wet systems, but it is well-suited for environments with extreme temperatures.
- Dry system pipes must be designed with a proper drainage slope to prevent water accumulation, which could freeze or obstruct water flow.
- Water Supply: Usually connected to the town’s main water supply, but if municipal water pressure is insufficient or unstable, fire water tanks and booster pumps may be required to ensure reliable water delivery.
For buildings exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations, dry systems offer a dependable fire suppression solution.
Pre-Action Systems – Precise Protection to Prevent Accidental Water Discharge
In environments such as data centers, museums, archives, and high-value storage areas, accidental water discharge can cause significant damage. Pre-action systems combine the features of dry systems and fire detection systems, ensuring that water only enters the pipes when a fire is detected, thereby reducing the risk of unintended activation.
Key Features:
- Pre-action systems remain dry under normal conditions, with pipes filled with air or an inert gas. Water only enters the pipes after the fire detection system confirms a fire event.
- These systems are often equipped with manual override controls, allowing personnel to manually activate or shut down the system if necessary.
- They are ideal for areas that require high-precision protection, ensuring a fast response to fires while avoiding unnecessary water damage.
- Water Supply: Typically connected to the town’s main water supply, but since a rapid response is required, fire water tanks are often included to enhance supply stability.
- Pre-action systems are available in three types:
- Non-Interlock: Water is released when either the fire detection system or a sprinkler head is triggered.
- Single-Interlock: Water is released only when the fire detection system is triggered.
- Double-Interlock: Water is released only when both the fire detection system and a sprinkler head are triggered.
This system provides an additional layer of protection, ensuring that water is discharged only in the event of a real fire, effectively safeguarding sensitive equipment and valuables.
Deluge Systems – Full Coverage for High-Risk Environments
In some high-fire-risk environments, such as chemical storage facilities, aircraft hangars, power substations, and large-scale industrial sites, conventional point-to-point sprinkler systems may not be sufficient to control the spread of flames. Deluge systems use open sprinkler heads, meaning that when activated, all sprinklers discharge water simultaneously, covering the entire protected area in a very short time.
Key Features:
- Pipes remain dry under normal conditions, and water is only released when the fire detection system confirms a fire.
- Since all sprinkler heads are open, the system provides full-area water coverage immediately, effectively extinguishing large-scale fires.
- Water Supply: Typically connected to the town’s main water supply, but high-risk areas often require dedicated fire water reservoirs or high-pressure supply systems to ensure sufficient and stable water availability.
- Suitable for flammable liquid storage, aircraft hangars, and large energy infrastructure.
- Must comply with AS 2118.3 standards to meet stringent fire safety requirements.
Deluge systems are the best choice for severe fire emergencies, particularly in scenarios where fires could spread rapidly over large areas.