Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire Sprinkler Systems
13.
Less than 300 heads min 6 spares
300 1,000 heads min 12 spares
More than 1000 heads min 24 spares
Control Valves
Control Valves
OS&Y Valve
Post Indicator Valve (PIV)
Post Indicator Valve Assembly
(PIVA)
Operating Valves
OS&Y secured
in open
position by
chain & lock
Outside Screw and Yoke
(OS&Y) Valve
Post Indicator Valve
(PIV)
Monitored
Wall Post Indicator Valve
(WPIV)
Post Indicator
Valve Assembly
(PIVA)
Waterflow Alarms
Hydraulic or Electrical;
warn of water movement in system,
hydraulic alarm sounds local,
electrical alarm sounds local and fire alarm
system.
Fire Department
Connection
Fire Department Connection
(FDC)
Connection usually by-passes control valve;
system can be used regardless of position control
valve is in.
Location:
should be one located near main entrance of
building,
others may be located at various locations around
building,
for use by additional companies,
when system is divided into zones.
allows FD to pump supplemental water,
shall be visible and recognizable,
located and arranged so that hose lines can be
attached without interference,
min size of fittings 2 (65 mm) (FCNYS),
have a sign with at least 1 letters that read AUTO
SPRINKLER,
shall not be less than 18 or more than 48 above
grade.
Fire Department Connection
(FDC)
What it looks like
Safety consideration:
Do not put your hands in the FDC to clear debris
out, because it may have the presence of:
broken glass,
sharp metal,
used drug needles,
even a bees nest
Fire Department Connection
(FDC)
Difficulties may be encountered with the FDC;
These difficulties may include:
missing or tight caps,
defective or incompatible threads,
debris stuffed into the connection,
female swivels out-of-round,
frozen female swivels,
and clappers either broken or jammed open,
Fire Department Connection
(FDC)
Cans, bottles, balls, metals and
drug needles have been shoved into
FDCs. Dont use your hands to
clean it out!!!!
Fire Department Connection
(FDC)
If the FDC is not usable,
notify the IC that water can
not be supplied to the system.
Some Remedies; (frozen swivels, defective clapper)
a spare male cap should be carried in the event it
becomes necessary to cap one side of the FDC to
prevent an outflow of water due to a malfunctioning
clapper valve,
connecting a second line is another solution,
tap the swivels with a spanner wrench to loosen paint,
dirt, etc.,
twist the supply hose 4 to 5 left turns, insert and turn
to the right,
Fire Department Connection
(FDC)
Many FDCs are equipped with either metallic or
plastic vandal proof caps,
these caps are usually attached with screw eyes
placed over the pin lugs on the female swivel,
both metal and plastic caps are removed by striking
the center of the cap with a tool,
caps can also be removed by prying one of the screw
eyes off the pin lug.
Fire Department Connection
(FDC)
Some FDs use security caps,
responding mutual aid
departments, without the key,
will not be able to remove the
cap..
Knox registered FD s
should request extra keys
for their mutual aid
departments,
KNOX
KEY
Fire Department Connection
(FDC)
Sprinkler System Failures
Sprinkler System Failures
There are three principal causes of unsatisfactory
sprinkler performance;
1. A closed valve in the water supply,
2. Inadequate water supply delivery,
3. Occupancy changes negating the system design.
Pre-planning, inspections, proper maintenance and
testing should correct these problems.
One of the leading causes of sprinkler system
ineffectiveness occurs when storage contents or
configurations change and the system is not altered to
match the new hazard,
Original sprinkler spacing, pipe size or water delivery
capacity might not control the new storage or layout,
Sprinkler System Failures
FD Operations
We connect to the FDC in case of insufficient water
supply or many heads opened taxing the system,
Upon arrival, stretch a supply line to the FDC, but
dont charge it until confirmed working fire,
Whenever possible, augment the system with two
different pumpers,
Charge the line, start pump pressure at 150 psi unless
system is posted for a different pressure,
FD Operations
If hose lines are used for firefighting, water for the
system should be taken from sources that do not reduce
sprinkler protection,
Verify water is flowing from the system, if not, check if
control valves are open, have a FF with a radio positioned
at the valve,
If present, shut the system down by using a sectional or
floor control valves instead of the main control valve,
FD Operations
If system is connected to a potable water supply, avoid
drafting from open water sources unless backflow
protection is installed,
Unless tagged Closed for Repair, any control valves
not open, should be reported to the fire investigators office,
FD Operations
Never shut the system down to improve visibility,
Dont shut the system down until fire has been
extinguished,
Notify the IC if water can not be supplied to the system
due to defective FDC,
Lastly, a properly designed, installed, maintained and
FD augmented system can supply water directly to the fire
in a more effective manner than manual fire suppression,
Summary
Thank You
Questions?