Installation of dry risers is important to ensure safety of people in high rise buildings. It is a fire fighting system that can distribute water to all floors of a high rise building in case of fire emergencies.
All buildings above 18m in height, but less than a height of 60m are required to have dry risers installed. A dry riser is kept empty of water, but in times of fire emergencies, it can distribute water to various levels of the building through the outlet pipes. This helps fire fighters in effectively dousing the fire without the need to drag the hose to different levels of the building.
Dry riser installation requirements
A dry riser consists of the three main components. They are:
Dry riser
All buildings above 18m in height, but less than a height of 60m are required to have dry risers installed. A dry riser is kept empty of water, but in times of fire emergencies, it can distribute water to various levels of the building through the outlet pipes. This helps fire fighters in effectively dousing the fire without the need to drag the hose to different levels of the building.
Dry riser installation requirements
A dry riser consists of the three main components. They are:
- External inlet
The external inlet is located in an enclosure on the building exterior wall. It is located on the ground level and consists of hose connection and a water collecting head along with a drain valve. The location of the inlet allows easy access to fire service providers in case of an emergency. The drain down valve allows drainage after use.
- The piping
Ideally, the pipes of diameter 100 mm should have an outlet for each floor. However, for taller buildings which require more outlets for every floor, the suggested diameter of the pipe should be 150 mm. The pipes should consist of air valves situated on the top. These can be used to evacuate air to allow the flow of water through them in case of fire emergencies. The pipes should also have shafts which are fire resistant placed around them.
- Outlets
The outlets can be located on each floor to distribute water in case of fire emergencies. The outlets should contain hose connections and gate valves. It is important to locate the outlets in a protected location so that they can effectively be used in case of fire emergencies. Placing one outlet on the top floor of the building facilitates easy testing and maintenance.
It is recommended to know about all factors that a dry riser installer takes into account certain specifications. These specifications relate to using wrought galvanised steel pipes, following building regulations during the installation process, consultation with the local fire station to ensure proper placement of the components and ensuring proper water supply.
Dry riser testing and maintenance
It is important to ensure that dry risers are regularly tested and maintained. This can help ensure their proper functioning in emergency situations. It is essential to ensure an annual testing of the system by a competent professional so that repairs for any damages or leaks can be done. The maintenance process involves the following steps:
- Conducting a visual inspection from the ground floor to the roof, covering the entire system.
- Testing the dry riser system with water for minimum 15 minutes and with a pressure of 10 bars.
- Checking the entire system for leakages during testing.
- Ensuring that there is no loss in water pressure during the testing process.
- Draining the dry risers completely after testing.
Only proper maintenance can increase the life of such dry risers installed in your building.
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