Wet Pipe Systems
Dry Pipe Systems
Pre-action Systems
Deluge Systems
Double Interlock Systems
Antifreeze Systems
Standpipe Systems
Fire Pump Systems
Fire Hydrant Systems
Fire Alarm Systems
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Dry Chemical Fire Systems
Foam Water Systems
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Fire System Types

There are several types of fire protection systems protecting your building. Each system has a unique and special use. To learn more about the systems you may have installed within your building, click the links to the left. If you have any questions pertaining to your system or its design, please feel free to e-mail us or call at 301-927-7300.

Wet pipe sprinkler systems are the most common systems. A wet pipe sprinkler system is under pressure, fully filled with water at all times. These systems are installed in heated spaces where temperatures are maintained above 42 degrees.

Dry pipe systems are usually installed in parking garages, outside loading docks or other similar cold conditions. A dry system is filled with air instead of water to protect the system from freezing. Most types of dry pipe valves require a suitable level of priming water. The priming water (usually about a gallon of water) is used in combination with the air pressure above the priming water to hold the tripping mechanism in place. When a sprinkler head is fused, the air will be released. When the air is at a point where the tripping mechanism could no longer stay closed, the system will trip causing the system to fill with water.

Pre-action systems are usually installed in computer rooms or other types of conditions where accidental water damage needs to be avoided. It's like a dry system although the system is tripped much differently. A pre-action system does not rely on air pressure to trip the valve. The air pressure is used as a supervisory alarm to let people know there is a problem with the system. A pre-action system is tripped manually or electrically using a solenoid valve. A pre-action system requires a separate activation panel to electrically trip the system. In most cases smoke detectors or rate of rise heat detectors are to trip the valve. When a smoke detector or rate of rise heat detector is activated (within two separate zones usually), the pre-action system will trigger the solenoid valve tripping the valve flooding the system. At this time the system is kind of like a wet system. No water will be present until a sprinkler head is fused.

Deluge types of sprinkler systems are very interesting. The sprinkler heads or nozzle type sprinkler heads are open at all times. Deluge systems are usually installed in conditions where water is required over the entire protected area. Deluge systems are electrically or manually tripped like the pre-action system. In some cases could be designed to reset automatically. Deluge systems have also been used in power plants to cool down electrical transformers.