Standpipe Inspection & Flushing

Flushing your System properly can really make a difference to the Life of your System. If you have an Old System that was not Installed or Maintained properly where you're having many leaks with your System then, Flushing is definitely something you want to look into and have Sauer Fire Protection come out and take care of it for you. We always make sure we constantly Flow Water through your Systems so we can get Scale/Corrosion out of your System. We can also Identify the “ Bad “ Areas of the Piping System where the Pipe is not Pitched correctly and Water is collecting. Once Identified then, we can come up with the correct Measures and Steps needed to fix the Issues.

Exercising your hose valves is very important as well, when the Fire Department needs to connect their hoses to these valves they need to operate properly. Standpipes are an arrangement of Piping, Valves, Hose Connections and Associated Equipment Installed in the Building structure, with Hose Valve located in such a manner that Water can be discharged in Streams or Spray, for the purpose of Extinguishing a Fire, thereby protecting a Building or Structure. Your Standpipes & valves shall be tested every year, so make sure you schedule your appointment today. There are Various Types and Classes of  Standpipes that Sauer Fire Protection can provide services too we have listed them some below :

  • Automatic Standpipe System – A Standpipe system that is attached to a Water Supply capable of supplying the System Demand that requires no Action other than Opening a Hose Valve to provide Water at Hose Connection
  • Dry Standpipe System – A Standpipe System designed to have Piping contain Water only when the System is being Utilized.
  • Manual Standpipe System – Standpipe System that relies exclusively on the Frie Department Connection to Supply the System Demand
  • Semiautomatic Dry Standpipe System – A Standpipe System that is permanently attached to a Water Supply that is capable of supplying the System Demand at all times arranged thought the use of a Device such as a Deluge Valve and that requires Activation of a remote control device to provide Water at Hose Connections
  • Wet Standpipe System –A Standpipe System having Piping containing Water at all Times

Fire Pumps

Fire Pumps are a Critical part of Sprinkler Systems and Water Mist Systems where a higher Water Pressure is required, due to Inadequate Water Supply, this will then require the Installation of a Fire Pump.  These are commonly found in buildings that tend to have a High-Pressure demand such a High-rises or Storage Warehouses. They can be Electric or Diesel and range in Size. Fire Pumps are designed to start Automatically in order to immediately provide Water in the event of a Fire. In many cases, Fire Pumps are the sole source of Water and Pressure for the Fire Protection System. They must be properly maintained to be sure they are available at all times. Properly Designed, Installed and Maintained Fire Pumps and Fire Protection Systems are the key to their proper Operation. 

Sauer Fire Protection has the Best and Top Qualified Technicians that perform Weekly, Monthly, Semi-Annual and Annual Testing, Maintenance and Inspections on ALL Types, Makes, Models and Sizes of Fire Pumps. 

There are many Types of Fire Pumps available. There are Two (2) Main Categories of Fire Pumps along with Different Centrifugal Type Pump Configurations. Here they are :

  • Positive Displacement Fire Pumps 
  • Centrifugal Fire Pumps 
  • Horizontal Split - Case Fire Pumps ( Centrifugal Type Pump )
  • Vertical Turbine Pumps 
  • In - Line Fire Pumps 
  • End Suction Fire Pumps
  • Multistage Multiport Fire Pumps 

 

Special Hazard Systems

In Operation, Water Mist Systems can operate with the same functionality as Deluge, Wet Pipe, Dry Pipe, or Pre-Action Systems. The difference is that a Water Mist System uses Compressed Gas as an atomizing medium, which is pumped through the Sprinkler Pipe. Instead of Compressed gas, some systems use a High-Pressure Pumps to Pressurize the Water so it atomizes as it exits the Sprinkler Nozzle Systems can be applied using local application method or total flooding method, similar to Clean Agent Fire Protection Systems. Call Sauer Fire Protection Today for ALL of you Special Hazard Sprinkler System needs!

  • Foam Water - A Foam Water Fire Sprinkler System is a Special Application System, discharging a mixture of Water and Low Expansion Foam Concentrate, resulting in a Foam Spray from the Sprinkler. These Systems are usually used with Special Hazards Occupancies associated with High Challenge Fires, such as Flammable liquids, and Airport Hangers.  Operation is as described above, depending on the System Type into which the Foam is injected.

  • Water Spray - "Water spray" Systems are operationally identical to a Deluge System, but the Piping and Discharge Nozzle Spray patterns are designed to protect a uniquely configured Hazard, usually being Three-Dimensional Components or Equipment (i.e. as opposed to a Deluge System, which is designed to cover the Horizontal floor area of a room). The Nozzles used may not be listed Fire Sprinklers, and are usually selected for a Specific Spray pattern to conform to the Three-Dimensional nature of the Hazard (e.g. Typical Spray patterns being oval, fan, full circle, narrow jet). Examples of Hazards protected by Water Spray Systems are Electrical transformers containing oil for cooling or turbo-generator bearings. Water Spray Systems can also be used externally on the surfaces of tanks containing Flammable liquids or Gases (such as hydrogen).

  • Antifreeze Systems – A Wet Pipe System using Automatic Sprinklers that contain a liquid solution to prevent freezing of the System, intended to discharge the solution upon Sprinkler Operation, followed immediately by Water from the Water Supply. A Wet Fire Sprinkler System requires Freeze Protection if any portion of the Sprinkler System is located in spaces where temperatures cannot be maintained at or above 40°F.

  • Water Mist - Water Mist Systems are used for Special Hazards Applications. This type of System is typically used where Water damage may be a concern, or where water supplies are limited. NFPA 750 defines Water Mist as a Water Spray with a droplet size of "less than 1000 microns at the minimum operation pressure of the discharge nozzle". The droplet size can be controlled by adjusting the Discharge Pressure through a Nozzle of a fixed orifice size. The Fire Suppression mechanisms provided by Water Mist Systems include cooling, local flame oxygen reduction, and radiation blocking.

  • Nitrogen System – Nitrogen Systems are used to prevent and inhibit Corrosion in Dry Systems and Pre-Action Systems with Supervisory Gas in System Piping. Dry and Pre-Action Systems employing Supervisory Air are subject to Corrosion, which may lead to property damage, ongoing Pipe Repair and Replacement, System downtime, and decreased c-factor and Sprinkler blockage. Replacing Air and Oxygen in a Sprinkler System with Nitrogen inhibits Corrosion by removing a segment of the Corrosion Triangle. In order to supply your Fire Sprinkler System with Nitrogen, you simply replace your current Compressed Air System with a Nitrogen Generator. 

5 Year Internal Inspections

We also Conduct 3 - Year Pressure Tests and 5 - Year Internal Obstruction Inspections so we will absolutely know your System In and Out and will Operate in a time of need. NFPA 25 requires an Internal Inspection of Fire Sprinkler System Piping every five years. This is to be conducted to Inspect for the “presence of foreign organic and inorganic material.” Foreign materials can cause Obstructions to Pipe and Sprinklers.

There are three levels of Internal Pipe Inspections, according to NFPA 25:

  1. Internal Pipe Inspection– this requires the opening of a Flushing Connection at the end of one Main and removal of one Sprinkler Head near the end of a Branch Line. These openings are to be Inspected for the “presence of foreign organic and inorganic material.”
  2. Internal Pipe Examination for ‘At-Risk’ Systems – NFPA 25 lists conditions in which this type of Internal Pipe exam is to be performed. This Inspection requires Internal Pipe Examinations at the following four points of the Fire Sprinkler System:
  • System valve
  • Riser
  • Cross main
  • Branch line
  1. Obstruction Investigation– This is to be performed if “foreign organic or inorganic material” is found during an Internal Pipe Inspection. NFPA 25 provides the requirements to Conduct Obstruction Investigations.

Over the years we have found Systems that will not Activate due to the Lack of Installation Quality and Maintenance on particular Systems. Within those Systems we have found Extreme amounts of Corrosion, Debris and MIC that deteriorates the Systems much Faster than they should have. We will always have the best Interest of the customer and tenants of the Property to ensure everyone's safety.   These are some examples of why Sprinkler Heads and Systems do not activate sometimes, if that System is neglected.

You do NOT want your system to NOT operate and potentially cause a person their life or maybe even yours. Keeping people safe and protected is what we are most passionate about. Contact Sauer Fire Protection today and help us make a change.