Russo Fire Provides full service of Sprinkler Systems from small single valve systems to large multi-valve systems.

All Sprinkler Systems essentially function the same, they deliver water to the fire in a fine spray. The Sprinkler head is designed to deliver water in a pre designed spray pattern to cool the area of fire and help control the flame spread. If the fire is small, the system can sometimes completely extinguish the fire. If the fire is large, the system will dramatically slow the fire growth giving valuable added time for the Fire Department to respond.

There are several different types of Sprinkler Systems, each designed to meet a specific need. Some of the most common types are :

Wet System :

A Wet Valve Sprinkler System is the most common system used for building protection. This type of system has water present in the piping to all the sprinkler heads. Once a Sprinkler head opens, water is delivered to the area of head coverage. Once water flows from the head the system pressure drops and the alarm valve trips, sending an alarm signal to a Monitoring Station or Fire Alarm System. These systems are used in heated areas where the ambient temperature never goes below freezing (0 deg C).

Foam System :

A Foam System is actually a Wet Valve Sprinkler System that mixes a foam concentrate with the water as it is drawn through the Sprinkler Alarm Valve. Its operation is the same as a Wet System, except that when the water (and foam concentrate) exit the sprinkler head it creates foam instead of a water spray.

Dry System :

A Dry valve (or Dry Pipe) Sprinkler System is used where the ambient temperature can drop below freezing. This system works much like the Wet valve system, but instead of having water in the piping to the sprinkler heads, it has pressurized air. An Air Compressor is used to maintain air pressure in the sprinkler piping, which holds down the Alarm Valves Clapper. If a sprinkler head opens, the air is allowed to flow and drop the pressure in the piping. This continues until the pressure drops low enough that it can no longer hold down the clapper. At this point water flows into and through the piping and out the sprinkler head. All Dry Sprinkler Systems are required by code to have water flow out the sprinkler head within 1 minute from the time the head is tripped. These systems are used in unheated areas (Underground Parking lots) and in outside area's (under large outside canopies) subject to below zero temperatures.

Pre-action System:

A Pre-action (or double interlocked) Sprinkler System is a special type of Dry Sprinkler system mainly used in Computer rooms and area's where you don't want water unless your sure their is a fire. The system uses pressurized air in the sprinkler pipes like a normal dry system, but requires two separate actions to actually get water out of the sprinkler head. The second action varies depending on the type of system. Most Computer room systems use an electric control as the second interlock. The basic operation of a Pre-action System functions like this:

1 - A control signal (pilot tube, solenoid etc) opens the Pre-action Valve and floods the pipes.

2 - A sprinkler head must rupture to allow water to flow from the piping.

Both of these conditions MUST happen before water can be released. If you get the flow signal (2) water will flood the pipes, but since the heads are intact no water flows out. If you have a head rupture (1) you will loose the air in the pipes, but there is no water there to come out the head. So, BOTH actions must take place before water is allowed to flow out the tripped sprinkler heads.

Deluge System:

The Deluge System (Total Area Flooding) is a special kind of system used primarily on large electrical transformers and high hazard areas. All other Sprinkler systems used closed sprinkler heads, which means water flows ONLY from the head that has been opened by heat. The Deluge System uses special sprinkler heads that are open and do not require heat to operate. The Deluge valve is basically the same as the Pre-action Valve except no air pressure is used in the piping. When the deluge valve is tripped (via a control signal as described for the Pre-action valve) water floods the piping and sprays from ALL the sprinkler heads (thus total area flooding).

Glycol System (Glycol loop):

A Glycol system (or loop) is actually not a system as is, but rather a section of piping on a Wet Sprinkler System. Its purpose is to allow a section of piping on a Wet System to be exposed to below freezing temperatures. The Glycol Loop consists of a pair of valves (for testing solution), a check valve (allows flow one way only), and a main shut-off valve. The main valve isolates the loop from the Wet System piping during filling. From this point sprinkler piping is run to the sprinkler heads in the "cold" area. This section of piping is then filled with a water/Glycol solution (basically an antifreeze solution). Once the loop is filled the main valve is open allowing the system water to bring the loop to system pressure. If one of the heads in the "cold" area trips, the water flows out the head (as the glycol solution is pushed out).