Experts in fire protection

Problem

Alarm systems are important components of a sprinkler system. Therefore their functionality must be ensured week after week via an alarm test.

In the conventional design of the alarm equipment of a wet alarm valve station the sprinkler opens the test valve above the alarm valve and takes as much water from the sprinkler pipe network as it takes for the drop in pressure to open the valve plate. Water flows through the alarm line and the hydraulic pressure switch responds. The water removed must then be replenished via an extensive procedure.

As the operator this manual water refill costs you a lot of water and also increases the risk of corrosion in the sprinkler pipe network as oxygen-rich fresh water ends up in the pipe network with each refill. For sprinkler systems with foaming agent admixture this also consumes a significant amount of foam concentrate.

That the alert test is necessary is not in question – however, it can be done much faster.

Solution

In order to simplify your sprinkler system alarm test we fit the additional component of DirectAlarm or, in the case of a foam agent admixture, the DirectAlarm foam variant on the wet alarm valves. 

In doing so, the routing is changed so that the necessary water to perform the alarm test flows directly from the water supply below the alarm valve into the alarm line. Thus, no water is taken from the sprinkler pipe network and replenishments are considerably less necessary. The risk of corrosion in the pipe network is reduced. 

With DirectAlarm you start the alarm test simply by flipping a 3/2-way valve into the "Test" position. The hydraulic pressure switch responds within a few seconds and the alarm bell sounds. After 30 seconds, the faucet on "Run" can be switched back to “Operation” and the function test is completed.

It doesn’t get any quicker - with DirectAlarm foam you can also reduce the use of foam concentrate if you are operating a sprinkler system with foam agent admixture.

Scope of service

  • Decommissioning and draining of the relevant sprinkler group
  • Dismantling of the existing sprinklers
  • Installation of the DirectAlarm or DirectAlarm foam fitting
  • Amending of the existing documentation and installation papers
  • Recommissioning of the sprinkler group, function testing and briefing