CONTACT US BILL PAY 1.855.206.2285 ABOUT US PRODUCTS + SERVICES INDUSTRIES LOCATIONS NEWS CAREERS TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT DRY SYSTEMS Posted October 19, 2021 by Koorsen Fire & Security If your building or facility has an area that is subject to temperatures that can fall to below 40o F, chances are it is protected with a dry pipe sprinkler system. Dry pipe sprinklers systems are designed specifically for areas subject to freezing, where the use of traditional wet pipe fire sprinklers would result in burst pipes and damage to the areas they are intended to protect. This post will take a closer look at dry pipe fire sprinklers to help you become more familiar with these systems and how they work. Dry pipe sprinkler systems are ideal for: Parking garages Unheated warehouses and loading docks Unheated attics Commercial freezers and refrigerated coolers Outside canopies attached to a heated building (e.g., retail garden centers) Fire Sprinkler Questions? Click to Contact Us Now! How a Dry Pipe System Works Contrary to what some might think, a dry pipe system does not use dry chemicals to suppress a fire. Like wet-pipe sprinkler systems, dry pipe systems use water to suppress fires. However, in contrast to a wet pipe sprinkler system in which the pipes are filled with water at all times, the unheated pipes in a dry pipe sprinkler system are instead filled with pressurized air and/or nitrogen. While the system is connected to a water source, the water is held back by a dry pipe valve, which remains closed until the system is activated. Dry pipe sprinkler systems use closed-type sprinkler heads, which work in combination with the dry-pipe valve to activate the system when needed. The pressure holds the valve in the closed position. When heat activates one or more of the sprinkler heads, they open up, allowing the system's pressure to drop. When the pressure drops, the valve opens and releases the water into the system to flow through the activated sprinkler heads. Advantages of a Dry Pipe Fire Sprinkler System Wet pipe sprinkler systems are typically the go-to system for most businesses. They are reliable and straightforward and work instantly -- the water in a wet pipe sprinkler system doesn't have to travel far as it is available right at the sprinkler heads. However, when it comes to protecting areas subject to freezing temperatures, dry pipe systems become an obvious choice when considering the alternatives, especially if the area to be protected is very large. Using wet pipe systems in large areas exposed to cold temperatures can be very costly as they require a lot of insulation and heat tracing to keep them warm. There are some older sprinkler systems out there that still use antifreeze solutions containing propylene glycol and/or glycerin. However, due to these compounds' combustibility, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has required that all systems using traditional antifreeze solutions be replaced with alternative freeze protection methods by 2022. One alternative is to replace the traditional antifreeze solution they contain with one that has been tested and proven non-combustible when released from sprinkler heads. However, such solutions are just now coming to the market, making it unlikely that they will be widely available in time to meet the NFPA mandate. The chief benefit of a dry pipe system is that its pipes are never in danger of freezing, which can release water into the area when it is not needed, potentially causing property damage and requiring costly cleanup. Dry pipe sprinklers also offer "precision" fire suppression. In a dry pipe sprinkler system, each sprinkler head in the system operates independently, which means that sprinklers will only activate in the area in which fire suppression is needed. Disadvantages of a Dry Pipe System are Relative to Your Needs As with any system, there are advantages and disadvantages. And when it comes to sprinkler systems, the decision of which type of system to use will be largely determined on the context -- the specific conditions you are dealing with and how the area in question is used. If your situation requires a dry pipe system, any comparison to wet sprinkler systems becomes moot. Assuming the area you need to protect requires a dry pipe system, characteristics that could be considered disadvantages compared to a wet pipe system become factors you need to consider before investing. We offer a few of those factors here. INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS In terms of costs, you can expect a new dry pipe sprinkler system to require a greater upfront investment than a wet pipe system because it is a more complex system both in terms of the equipment required and the labor needed for installation. Dry pipe systems require additional control equipment and an air compressor. With additional equipment come additional maintenance costs as well. Dry pipe systems also come with more design restrictions, which means that installation will be more complex. For example, the strict requirement regarding the maximum permitted size of an individual dry pipe system (750 gallons) can make it difficult for an owner to make system additions later. This particular restriction makes it very important to consider both present and future needs when designing the initial system. CORROSION POTENTIAL Dry pipes are also more susceptible to corrosion than the pipes used in wet pipe systems. While dry pipe systems are designed to keep water out of the system until activated, water can get into the pipes. This can occur when the air's humidity turns into condensation when the air in the pipes is pressurized. Residual water can also remain in the pipes after activation or testing. When combined with the pressurized oxygen in the system, this moisture can cause internal pipe corrosion, leading to pitting and small leaks in the pipes over time. Corrosion in dry pipe systems can be mitigated with copper or stainless steel pipe, both of which are less susceptible to corrosion and/or with the use of dry nitrogen gas instead of air to pressurize the system. While these precautions can add to a higher initial investment, if your situation requires a dry pipe system, they can pay off in the long term. PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS It is essential to know that while a dry pipe system offers more precise protection than wet pipe systems, it can take up to 60 seconds from initial activation to when the water reaches the sprinklers. The main concern here is that this delay can lead to more damage before the fire is suppressed. However, when considered within the context of a wet vs. dry system, the risk of frozen pipes likely far outweighs the risk of a 60-second delay in fire suppression. Here again, if the area you need to protect requires a dry pipe system, this delay need not be a primary factor in your choice of the manufacturer because it is inherent in the system's design. All dry pipe systems will have this delay. Maintenance is Key to Avoiding Premature Failure Routine maintenance of dry pipe systems is critical to avoiding their failure and containing ongoing costs. If not properly maintained, these systems can freeze and flood the areas they are intended to protect. When this happens, you not only have a costly cleanup on your hands, but the system is rendered inoperable, which triggers the requirement for a fire watch until it is repaired. The maintenance requirements for dry-pipe sprinkler systems can be found in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 25 Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. If your building or facility requires a dry pipe sprinkler system, Koorsen Fire and Security can answer any questions you might have and design a system that will meet your needs today and into the future. Our experts can also help you maximize the value of the system you have performing all the required inspections and testing to keep it in proper working order. Contact Koorsen today to schedule your next inspection. Fire Sprinkler Questions? Click to Contact Us Now! Tweet Share Topics: Fire Protection, Fire Sprinkler Systems Contact Us Now! FIRST NAME* LAST NAME EMAIL* PHONE NUMBER WORK SITE ZIP CODE* WORK SITE CITY WORK SITE STATE WHAT FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM SERVICES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN (NEW INSTALLATION, REPAIR, EXPANSION)? Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only. It is believed to be reliable, but Koorsen Fire & Security assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this article. It does not constitute professional advice. The user of this article or the product(s) is responsible for verifying the information's accuracy from all available sources, including the product manufacturer. The authority having jurisdiction should be contacted for code interpretations. RELATED POSTS What is a KnoxBox Used For? Top Tips for Preventing Fires in Businesses Occupancy Loads and What They Mean for Fire Safety How to Protect Computer Server Rooms from Fires SEARCH OUR BLOG SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG EMAIL* NOTIFICATION FREQUENCY* DAILY WEEKLY RECENT POSTS What Are the Most Popular Kinds of Restaurant Fire Suppression Systems? What Sets Off Kitchen Hood Suppression Systems? Taking a Closer Look at Dry Systems Backflow Preventers – A Critical Component in Fire Protection Systems Types of Access Control Key Cards CATEGORIES Commercial Security (76) Fire Protection (76) Koorsen News (71) Fire Safety & Security (65) Fire Extinguisher (42) see all Koorsen Fire & Security Based on 414 Trustindex reviews. See all reviews Write a review James Jarrell November 24, 2021. They were masked up and ready to do the Job. Was impressed with the knowledge I received from them on my system.. thanks again. Matthew Bazemore November 22, 2021. I am a pastor of a church in Medina and we have worked with Koorsen for several years now. Most recently, after playing phone tag a couple of times, Bob fit me into his schedule right away because of my holiday schedule. I really appreciated him going the extra mile and responding very quickly. He was professional, friendly and prompt with his service. Thank you, Bob and Koorsen! bia November 2, 2021. It’s really cool to find out there is so much that goes on behind fire fighting than simply spraying water at a fire and calling it a day. From the fire extinguishers made of agents that specialize in depriving small fires of oxygen to the fire fighting nozzles and hoses that let firemen battle against the biggest of infernos. My friend is planning on becoming one day and I thought it’d be good if he did some reading on them before applying. This article will be a nice primer for him on the equipment they use, I’ll be sure to send it to him for his reading. https://firesafetyitems.com/ Kerry Mattox October 19, 2021. Courteous, prompt and knowledgeable. Ira Sivley October 6, 2021. Great Teresa Doss October 5, 2021. Always great service no matter the need. Great, professional people everytime. Emma Church September 29, 2021. Very friendly gentlemen arrived to inspect our fire extinguishers. He took care of whatever issue he found during inspections, and left. Very efficient and stress-free for us. :) Rob Webber September 29, 2021. Bob does an awesome and efficient job during his inspections! Kaitlin Bales September 29, 2021. Fast and friendly service Sima Patel (Hampton Inn) September 21, 2021. We had two really nice guys that came out on September 15 , 2021 to check our Fire Alarm System. They answered all of our questions and were very kind. 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