emergency lights

What are Emergency Lights?

The last time you sat in a movie theatre, you might have observed exit signs light up in the darkness. Under OSHA rules, a commercial building must include emergency lights to be considered safe and code-compliant. Inhabitants of your commercial building must know how to find the exits in an emergency, which is why it’s vital to have a fire protection company set up and assess your emergency lighting.

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Hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers is important in making sure that extinguishers work efficiently.

What is Hydrostatic Testing of Fire Extinguishers?

Making sure that your fire extinguishers work efficiently is crucial in the safety of your home or property. One way to confirm that it is working is by conducting what’s known as hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers. However, since many building owners do not know how to do this, it is best to leave it to the experts. Here is more information about hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers.

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fire suppression

What is A Dry Sprinkler System?

Fire protection is tremendously important in every type of buildings, considering the possible cost of uncontrolled fire and smoke. A dry sprinkler system is amongst the best measures you can set up to make sure occupant safety and to protect assets.

Fire suppression system

Fire sprinkler systems can be classified into four main types, and the best option depends on the specific circumstances in each cases:

  • Dry sprinkler systems
  • Deluge systems
  • Wet sprinkler systems
  • Pre-action systems

This article will focus on dry sprinkler systems, as well as their applications, advantages and disadvantages.

How Does a Dry Sprinkler System Work?

According to the NFPA 13 standard, a dry sprinkler system is one that applies automatic sprinklers linked to a piping network with pressurized air or nitrogen as a substitute for water. Pressure holds back water thanks to a dry pipe valve, which is a special type of valve intended for this application. The pressure is released when the sprinkler heads set off, opening the dry pipe valve and letting water into the sprinkler piping. For evaluation, a wet-pipe system is permanently filled with water, which is released the moment one sprinkler head opens.

Dry sprinkler system acquired its name for the reason that the piping is usually empty of water, only filling up when one or more sprinkler heads sets off in reaction to heat.

The dry pipe valve is intended to be held back by pressure, and it opens when the pressure in the sprinkler piping drops to 6 psi.


Since piping is dry, there can be some setbacks of up to 60 seconds while water travels among the valve and the sprinkler head. A drawback of dry pipe systems is that fire can stretch for a little longer time before the affected zone is showered with water.

An alarm line is linked to the valve assembly, and it sets off when the valve opens.
It is very essential to maintain the dry pipe valve and related equipment in an area where temperatures will not drop beneath the freezing point of water. Or else, the supply may possibly be blocked with ice, and water will not surge even if the dry pipe valve opens.

Operating Procedure of a Dry Sprinkler System


Dry pipe valves are set up at the end of the fire sprinkler riser, sorting out the pressurized piping network from the water supply.

As described above, these valves are loaded by a pressure difference – the sprinkler piping usually has a pressure 5 times higher than the water supply to grip the valve closed. A usual system side pressure is 40 psi.

In a number of dry sprinkler system models, there is a little quantity of priming water to accomplish a superior seal.

There is an in-between compartment with a water flow lever and an alarm port that can be linked to a water motor gong outside the building. Usually, this piping section has no water and is not pressurized.

NFPA standards involve pressure-type flow switches in dry pipe sprinkler systems. Vane-type switches aren’t allowed, while the water flow is extremely strong when the valve opens and it can harm the paddles of vane-type switches.

The dry sprinkler system pressure must be condensed to 6 psi to open the dry pipe valve, but there is a low pressure switch that transmits an alarm if the pressure drops 10 psi underneath the actual value.

When this switch sets off, it does not automatically mean that a sprinkler head has opened – the drop can be caused by concerns such as leaks and compressor malfunction, and the system should be checked to fix the problem before the dry pipe valve opens.

The NFPA 72 standard need air pressure to be observed, in order to perceive a change of 10 psi below standard air pressure.

There are many accessories accessible for dry pipe valves, with tasks that progress system operation.

Accelerators help the dry valve operate quicker, as implied by their name. They redirect air flow in the sprinkler piping to decrease pressure faster, lowering the opening time of the valve. Hence, reduce the time necessary to deliver water to the affected area once a sprinkler head opens.

Air preservation devices keep ample pressure in the sprinkler piping, by supplying more air when a small pressure loss is perceived.

Air dryers get rid of moisture within the sprinkler piping, as implied by their name.

dry sprinkler system


When Is a Dry Sprinkler System Suggested?

Given that a dry sprinkler system is not packed with water, they are the best alternative in applications with freezing temperatures. As stated in the NFPA 13 standard, these sprinkler systems are intended for applications where the ambient temperature can’t be kept at a minimum of 40°F every time. A dry sprinkler system can be usually found in spots prone to freezing, such as the following:

  • Water-sensitive storage areas
  • Unheated warehouses
  • Loading docks
  • Exposed parking garages
  • Unconditioned attics
  • Commercial freezers
fire suppression

Fire Suppression Contractors on Food Industry Fire Safety

In the food industry, the kitchen is where the action is. It’s where the best chefs work and where the delectable food that keeps patrons coming back time and time again is crafted. But where there is heat, there is the danger of fire. And fire suppression contractors have something to say about it.

Fires are more likely to take place in a restaurant than almost any other kind of trade. With frequent exposure to high heat, fires can break out for an assortment of reasons. In spite of why a fire starts out, what is vital is suppressing the fire as rapidly as possible. Water on average is not an option, as grease fires increase with the addition of water, while extinguishers may damage all of the food and produce within of the kitchen when avoidable. Restaurant fire suppression contractors recommend an exclusive way of putting out a fire fast and efficiently. If you are at present on the market for a control system, or are fascinated in the restaurant trade and want to know how best to care for your investment, the best restaurant fire control systems provide you this means.

Fire safety in commercial kitchens achieved with hood suppression systems

Fire Suppression Systems are Your First Line of Defense


As per the National Restaurant Association, 57% of all restaurant fires are caused by cooking tools. This means the fire can be controlled if you have a control system set up. Properly training your employees, maintenance of grease and having a fire extinguisher available when a fire breaks out in former circumstances is still vital, but you can reduce your fire possibility by nearly 60%. As a result, the fire control system directly becomes your first line of defense. You just require knowing more regarding it and how it works.

The Basics of the Food Industry Fire Suppression Systems


Different brands offer little difference in features. For the most part however, fire suppression contractors suggest a control system will give you with the usual fundamental features. The control system connects to both the covering over your cooking place and the gas line running through the cooking place. If the fire control system is triggered, the gas line mechanically shuts fire suppression systems off. This kills the fuel foundation of the fire. Currently, depending on the fire (such as a grease fire), it could still burn on and threaten to increase. Due to this, there is a minor element to the system, intended to put out the left behind flames.

Nozzles are installed with the ventilation system in the hood over your cooking place. When triggered, the nozzles release a specially calculated fire suppressant. The suppressant is a water-based substance with a special compound intended to fight grease fires. As the extinguished fire creates a substantial quantity of smoke, the covering kicks on, removing the smoke from the kitchen.

Easy to Use With Manual Options


Restaurant fire control systems are usually easy to use. Much like the sprinkler system running through specialized buildings, the control kicks on when it detects flames and increasing heat. Different systems do have diverse behaviour of detecting a fire, so be certain to look into this when discussing the setting up with a service provider. Once triggered, the two-prong approach kicks in rapidly to eradicate the fuel cause at the same time as dousing the flames. This keeps possible financial loss to the lowest, with only the food on the cooking surface damaged.

According to fire suppression contractors, most fires start in the kitchen

Manual launch should come as an alternative. As is the case of fires when a sprinkler system is there, if the selected trigger is not activated, the nozzle system might not turn on until the fire has increased away from the cooking surface. To stop this from happening, a manual launch point on the restaurant fire control systems allows an operator to turn on control, killing the flames rapidly.

Finding the Right Fire Suppression Systems According to Fire Suppression Contractors


Control systems come in a lot of different size variants. Such a system is typically installed into the current covering of a kitchen. This gives the setting up service providers the ability to adjust the size of the system and the amount of liquid fire suppressant readily available. Whilst no two restaurants are precisely similar, most kitchens share a comparable character, so having this kind of setup installed is not hard and can be modified to fit the restaurant’s requirements.

Employee safety is the main concern for any company. As an owner, it is your job to offer the best product in the safest way possible. Restaurant fire suppression systems let you to do just that, whilst protecting your financial and real estate investments from fire damage.