Deluge Systems
High Pressure Water Mist System
What Is A Deluge Fire Suppression System?
Deluge spray systems, as the name implies, deliver large quantities of water over specific areas in a relatively short period of time. These systems are used to protect against rapidly growing and spreading fires, typically involving flammable liquids and solvents etc. This system can be activated either manually or automatically.
How Does A Deluge Fire Protection System Work?
Deluge systems are like automatic sprinkler systems with the exception that all nozzles (sprinkler heads) are open and will discharge water simultaneously when a control valve opens. These systems are designed to protect areas where a fire is likely to spread rapidly and/or where cooling of surrounding equipment is necessary.
Deluge water spray systems are similar to sprinkler systems in that they control a water supply. The installation consists of control valves, piping, hangers and discharge devices.
Maintenance, Testing And Inspections
These systems also require the same inspection, testing and maintenance regime as a conventional sprinkler system. Deluge systems may also be coupled with a fire detection system that is either hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical. They may also have other devices (such as pipeline strainers, which are not generally found on sprinkler systems) and equipment that require special attention in order to maintain the operational status of the deluge system.
Advantages Of A Deluge System
A deluge system offers multiple advantages over a traditional fire sprinkler system. These include:
- A deluge system is not at risk of frozen pipes as it is a dry system. The pipes of traditional sprinklers can freeze when exposed to cold temperatures because they are filled with water.
- This system offers a quicker response to fire by releasing water through all of its open heads at once. A regular sprinkler system with closed heads must activate each sprinkler head individually. Therefore, the deluge system is faster and more effective in hazardous situations.
- Deluge systems are used in a variety of special hazard applications, including fuel depots, flammable and combustible liquid storage, transformers, and turbines. This is due to the design of the water from the nozzles (which have specific predetermined discharge patterns) onto the entire surface of the hazard.
- In certain circumstances, extinguishing is not the only desired result of a deluge system. In the case of flammable liquid storage and gas tanks, cooling is a vital function too. Cooling is achieved using medium velocity spray nozzles, whereas extinguishing is usually by high-velocity nozzles.