Water that waits for proof of fire.
Most buildings are well served by a wet or dry pipe system. Some aren't. Server rooms, archives, museums and other spaces full of irreplaceable contents need a system that won't release water on a knocked head. High-hazard areas need the opposite: water everywhere, all at once. Pre-action and deluge systems cover both ends.
Pre-action systems
The piping in a pre-action system holds supervised air, not water. A separate smoke or heat detection system watches the space. Only when that system detects a fire does the pre-action valve open and fill the pipe, and water still reaches the room only where a head has fused. Two events have to happen before anything gets wet, which is why pre-action is the standard choice for data and telecom rooms, records storage, libraries and collections.
Because the pipe is dry until detection, pre-action systems also work in spaces that freeze, such as cold storage.
Deluge systems
Deluge systems use open heads with no glass bulbs. When the detection system trips the deluge valve, water discharges from every head on the system at the same moment. That floods the whole hazard area before fire can travel across it. Deluge protection suits fuel and chemical storage, power transformers, aircraft hangars and other places where a fire can spread faster than individual heads could respond.
Detection and suppression, working together
Both systems depend on detection. We coordinate the valve, trim and piping with the detection and alarm side of the job, working with our partner Alert Services Inc. for fire alarm equipment and monitoring, so the whole system is tested as one.
What's included
- Hazard review to confirm whether pre-action, deluge or a standard system fits
- Single- or double-interlock pre-action design to suit the risk
- Valve, trim, air supply and piping installation
- Coordination with the detection and alarm system
- Trip testing and the final inspection walkthrough
- Ongoing inspection, testing and maintenance
What it costs
These systems cost more than a standard wet system because of the valves and detection involved. The price depends on the size of the protected area, the hazard and the water supply, so we quote after reviewing the space. Bundle installation with ongoing inspection and save.
