Fire Sprinkler Valves – An Important Part of Fire Suppression Systems

Aug 7, 2023 | news

Fire sprinkler valve play an essential role in fire suppression systems by controlling the flow of water to sprinkler heads in the event of a fire. There are several different types of fire valves designed for specific purposes in the piping network. Proper installation, inspection, and maintenance of these valves is critical to ensure the entire sprinkler system operates as designed when needed most.

Shutoff Valves

 

The most common type of fire sprinkler valves are shutoff valves, also called sectional control valves. These valves are designed to isolate certain sections or zones of the sprinkler system piping, allowing water flow to be shut off for that section without disrupting the rest of the system. This enables repairs or replacements to be performed without draining the entire system.

Check Valves

Check valves, also known as backflow preventers or reflux valves, are installed to prevent the reversal of flow in the pipes. They are typically installed where high-pressure water mains connect to fire sprinkler piping. The purpose is to prevent water from flowing backwards into the water main from the lower pressure sprinkler pipes during a fire event.

Alarm Valves

Alarm valves are designed to send a signal when water begins flowing through the fire sprinkler system, indicating a fire has initiated. These valves have mechanical or electrical components that activate an alarm when the valve opens due to water pressure buildup from sprinkler activation. This alerts occupants and fire departments so they can respond quickly.

Flow Control Valves

Flow control valves regulate water pressure and flow rate within sprinkler piping networks. They are often used to balance multiple sprinkler zones to ensure adequate water supplies to all heads. There are two main types: pressure regulating valves which reduce high water pressure to a specified lower level and pressure reducing valves that lower pressure by a certain percentage. Properly sized and installed flow control valves ensure fire sprinkler systems remain operational within design limits.

Pressure Relief Valves

Pressure relief valves are meant to avoid excess pressure buildup in fire sprinkler pipes and help prevent system damage. They automatically release excess pressure from the pipes whenever it goes above a preset limit. Common causes of excess pressure include thermal expansion of water during a fire event or leakage problems. Pressure relief valve discharge ports should direct excess water away from occupants and electrical equipment.

Deluge Valves

Deluge valves activate an entire deluge sprinkler system instead of individual sprinkler heads. They are commonly installed to protect areas with high hazard risks, sensitive equipment, or where quick fire suppression is critical. When a fire occurs, these valves open immediately to release water across the entire coverage area. This rapid deluge of water can suppress a fire before it spreads. Proper calibration, testing, and inspection are important for deluge valve systems.

Post Indicator Valves

Post indicator valves are special shutoff valves used for tall buildings, large facilities, and where there are many branches in fire sprinkler piping. They have an external indicator that shows whether the valve is open or closed. This helps firefighters determine what areas of a building still have water supplies during an emergency. They are typically located in stairs or corridors so they remain accessible during evacuations.

Butterfly Valves

Butterfly valves sometimes serve as shutoff valves in some fire sprinkler systems. They typically have a round disc – like a butterfly’s wing – that rotates within the valve body to open or close water flow. Butterfly valves provide little
waterway obstruction and are compact in design. However, they may not be suitable for all applications due to their wide variety in design, material, and performance specifications.