A Pre-action Fire Sprinkler System is a fire protection system designed to minimize the risk of accidental water discharge. It uses a two-step activation process, making it ideal for sensitive areas where water damage could be costly or harmful, like data centers, museums, and libraries. This added layer of protection ensures that the system only activates when there’s a real fire threat, providing peace of mind in critical environments.
Pre-action fire sprinkler systems are advanced fire suppression systems designed to provide effective fire protection while minimizing the risk of water damage, particularly in environments housing sensitive equipment or materials.
Wermany Technical Services LLC supplies pre-action systems to meet the fire protection needs of all our customers in Dubai and across the Middle East. Our solutions are designed to provide reliable and efficient fire suppression, ensuring the highest level of safety in critical environments. For inquiries, contact us at Call: +971 50 965 7945 Email: info@warnersafety.com
How a pre-action system works:
- Similar to a dry pipe system, water is not stored in the sprinkler pipes. Instead, the water is held back by an electrically operated valve known as the pre-action valve.
- This valve is controlled by independent fire detection devices such as heat, smoke, or flame detectors. These detectors trigger the release of the valve only when a fire is confirmed.
- Once the detectors activate, the pre-action valve opens, allowing water to flow into the sprinkler pipes. However, water will only discharge from the sprinklers if the individual sprinkler heads are activated by the heat from the fire, making it a two-step process.
Double Interlock Pre-action System
In Some cases, the pre-action fire sprinkler system may be built with a double interlock that adds pressured air or nitrogen to the system pipe. This feature serves two functions: first, to monitor piping for leaks, and second, to keep water from system piping in the event of an unintended detector operation.
In double interlock pre-action system The piping in the system is filled with compressed nitrogen or air, while water under pressure is held below the clapper of the pre-action valve. The double interlock pre-action system is especially useful in environments where water damage needs to be avoided, such as freezer warehouses, where water could freeze and cause significant damage, or in areas with sensitive equipment.
Pre-Action Fire Sprinkler System Two-Step Process
A pre-action fire sprinkler system uses a two-step process to ensure water is only released when there’s an actual fire, providing extra protection against false alarms and accidental discharge.
Two-Step Process:
- Fire Detection System Activation: The first step happens when the fire detection system is triggered by smoke or heat detectors, or both. When the system detects signs of a fire, it opens the pre-action valve, allowing water to flow into the pipes. However, the water stays in the pipes and doesn’t release yet.
- Sprinkler Head Activation: The second step occurs when the fire creates enough heat to activate the sprinkler heads. Only the sprinklers exposed to the heat will open, allowing water to flow out and suppress the fire.
Key Features:
- Hybrid Design: Pre-action systems combine characteristics of both wet and dry sprinkler systems. They use a network of pipes that are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen, preventing water from flowing until certain conditions are met.
- Double Interlock Mechanism: Some pre-action systems utilize a double interlock setup, requiring two events to happen before water is released:
- Detection of fire via heat or smoke detectors.
- Activation of the sprinkler heads.
- Reduced Risk of False Alarms: By requiring specific activation conditions, pre-action systems significantly reduce the chances of unintended water discharge due to false alarms.
- Rapid Response: While they are slower than wet systems, pre-action systems react faster than dry systems, providing timely water flow to extinguish fires.
- Accidental discharge prevention: The two-step process ensures that water is not accidentally released. Water enters the pipes only after the detection system confirms a fire, and sprinklers release water only when they individually sense heat.
- Closed sprinkler heads: Water won’t flow unless the specific sprinkler is activated by heat, further reducing the chance of unnecessary water damage.
- Compressed air/nitrogen: The system piping is kept dry and pressurized with air or nitrogen, enhancing its reliability and preventing freezing in colder environments.
Advantages of Pre-Action Systems:
Pre-action systems are becoming increasingly popular due to their numerous benefits.
- Protection of sensitive areas: These systems are ideal for places where accidental water release could cause serious damage, such as in server rooms, libraries, or art galleries.
- Protection against false alarms: Pre-action fire sprinkler system provides high reliability and protection against false alarms. The two-step approach ensures that water is only released when there is a genuine fire, reducing the possibility of water damage caused by false alarms.
- Minimizes water damage: By only allowing water to flow through activated sprinklers, these systems limit the area affected by water, reducing damage.
- Early warning system: The integrated detection system triggers alarms, providing early notification of a potential fire even before the sprinklers are activated.
Applications for Pre-Action Systems
- Museums and Art Galleries
- Telecommunication Facilities
- Freezer warehouses
- Data Centers
- Server Rooms
- Archives
- Libraries
- Computer rooms
- Process control rooms
- Airplane Hangars
Pre-action systems are ideal for protecting electronic equipment in data centers where accidental water discharge could damage critical infrastructure. For inquiries, contact us at Call: +971 50 965 7945 Email: info@warnersafety.com
Differences between Single and Double Interlock Pre-action Systems
The primary differences between Single and Double Interlock Pre-action Systems lie in their design, operation, and application scenarios. Here’s a comparison of the two:
Single Interlock Pre-action Systems
- Operational Mechanism:
- Requires one event to initiate water flow. This involves the detection system identifying a fire and opening the pre-action valve, allowing water to enter the piping.
- Activation:
- The system can operate when the pre-action valve is opened due to heat from a fire, and if one or more sprinklers fuse (open) due to the fire.
- Application:
- Typically used in environments where sensitive items are stored, such as computer rooms, archives, museums, and libraries. The system allows for a “pre-alarm,” giving time for alternative firefighting measures before discharge occurs.
- Protection Against Water Damage:
- Provides an added layer of protection against inadvertent water discharge, as there is still a reliance on both fire detection and sprinkler head activation.
Double Interlock Pre-action Systems
- Operational Mechanism:
- Requires two independent events to initiate water flow: the loss of air or nitrogen pressure in the piping (due to the operation of one or more sprinklers) and the activation of a fire detection device, which opens the solenoid valve.
- Activation:
- The system will only operate when both the dry pilot actuator is opened (indicating sprinkler activation) and the solenoid valve is opened (due to fire detection).
- Application:
- Commonly used in areas that require maximum protection against accidental discharge, such as in refrigerated facilities (e.g., freezer warehouses). The system is designed to mitigate the risk of flooding from water discharge due to false alarms.
- Protection Against Water Damage:
- Provides a higher level of safety against inadvertent sprinkler activation, as both a fire detection event and a sprinkler operation are mandatory for water flow to occur.
Leading Supplier Of Pre-action Fire Sprinkler Systems In Dubai
Wermany Technical Services LLC is a trusted leader in supplying pre-action fire sprinkler systems in Dubai and all over UAE, specializing in high quality fire protection solutions for sensitive and high-value environments. Known for our commitment to quality, we provide top quality pre-action systems that deliver reliable fire suppression while reducing the risk of accidental water discharge. Our systems are perfect for critical facilities like data centers, freezer warehouses, museums, and more, where safety and precision are essential. Trust Wermany Technical Services LLC for the most effective and dependable pre-action fire protection solutions in Dubai.
Implementing a pre-action fire sprinkler system necessitates careful planning and consideration of various factors, including the specific needs of the facility, the nature of the assets being protected, and the potential risks involved. By addressing these considerations, Wermany helps companies to effectively leverage the advantages of pre-action systems to safeguard their high-value environments while minimizing the risk of water damage and false alarms. For inquiries, contact us at Call: +971 50 965 7945 Email: info@warnersafety.com