fire sprinkler system Archives - Davis Ulmer Fire Protection

Fire Sprinkler Corrosion Prevention

One of the biggest issues with fire sprinkler systems is corrosion within the pipes. Corrosion often goes undetected until it is too late because it happens inside of the pipes and may be difficult to see until the pipes start leaking or become obstructed. The damage caused by corrosion can lead your fire sprinkler system to not work properly, which means it may not respond to a fire as it was designed to do. Fortunately, there are methods that may be used to prevent corrosion in fire sprinkler systems.

Causes of Corrosion

Understanding how corrosion occurs and what the different types of corrosion are can help prevent this problem from occurring in your sprinkler system. The most common cause of corrosion is oxidation. This happens when oxygen trapped in the sprinkler pipes dissolves in the water and reacts with the sprinkler piping. Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is a form of corrosion caused by microorganisms. MIC occurs when there are bacteria within the pipes of a fire sprinkler system along with the presence of metal, water, nutrients, and oxygen. Another type of corrosion, oxygen corrosion, occurs when oxygen gas and water in the sprinkler system react with the metal piping.

What Problems Does Corrosion Cause?

Letting corrosion go unchecked can cause serious problems with your fire sprinkler system including:

Leaks
Pipe obstructions
Reduced hydraulic performance

These problems will lessen the likelihood that your sprinkler system will function properly if a fire occurs. It can also lead to expensive repair costs, damage to property and disruption to your business.

Preventing Corrosion

Taking steps to prevent corrosion in your fire sprinkler system can go a long way in lengthening the life of your system. There are several methods that can be used to prevent or manage corrosion in sprinkler systems.

In Dry Pipe Systems – Corrosion occurs in dry pipe systems when water is introduced to the pipes. It is difficult to keep the pipes in a dry system completely dry and there is usually some water present. After a dry pipe system is activated or tested, water flows through the pipes and it is a challenge to remove all of it. One way to prevent corrosion in dry pipe systems is through nitrogen interting. This process eliminates all of the oxygen within the system and replaces it with nitrogen so corrosion cannot occur.

In Wet Pipe Systems – In wet pipe systems, corrosion occurs when oxygen is introduced to the sprinkler systems. Installing an air venting device on a sprinkler system can help reduce corrosion. Wet pipe nitrogen inerting can stop corrosion in a sprinkler system by using nitrogen to displace oxygen from the piping before it is filled with water.

MIC Corrosion – There are some methods that can be used to manage MIC corrosion. This includes filling pipes with treated water to prevent bacteria growth and using biocides to treat MIC.

Preventing Corrosion with Davis-Ulmer

At Davis-Ulmer Fire Protection, our team can help you prevent corrosion in your fire sprinkler system. We can help you test your system and identify signs of corrosion to maximize the life of your sprinkler system. Our corrosion prevention services include biocide treatments and nitrogen inerting. We service locations across New York state and can help test or monitor the water within your sprinkler system to manage corrosion. If you are concerned about preventing corrosion in your sprinkler system, contact Davis-Ulmer today.

Fire Companies Set Controlled Fires for National Fire Prevention Month

October is National Fire Prevention Month and many fire companies educated their local communities on fire safety throughout the month. It is great to see people making fire safety a focus in their communities and fire companies in Illinois focused specifically on sprinkler systems.

Various fire departments in Northern Illinois educated the public on fire safety and fire prevention in a unique way this October. Fire companies in Northern Illinois actually set controlled fires as demonstrations so the public could understand the benefits of fire sprinklers.

Sprinkled Rooms vs. Non-Sprinkled Rooms

The fires were set outside in two staged rooms that were totally furnished like a living room. One of the rooms had sprinklers installed and the other room did not. People were able to feel the level of heat coming from the room and how quickly it spread in the room without the fire sprinklers installed. They were able to see how quickly the room with the sprinklers controlled and cooled the fire where the other room quickly got out of control.

fire prevention month

Fire Protection Systems Save Lives

The demonstrations were made possible with the help of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the proven performance of fire sprinklers. They helped local fire companies host a variety of fire and sprinkler demonstrations throughout the month of October. They plan to assist with a total of 53 demonstrations in 2016, driving attention to the important of sprinkler systems and the roles they play in fire safety.

These demonstrations gave the local fire departments a chance to talk to the public about preventing fires, the benefits of smoke alarms, the advantages of sprinkler systems, and fire evacuation methods.

In Illinois, one hundred communities actually require fire sprinklers in new homes that are being built. Illinois has made fire safety a focus in their communities and have established the benefits of sprinkler systems in not just businesses, but homes as well. If you’re looking to install sprinkler systems in your business or your home, contact Davis-Ulmer Fire Protection Systems, we can help. We are your full-service fire protection company and work with customers in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Spring Ahead with Spring Maintenance

testing smoke detector Spring is the perfect time of year to get a fresh start and take care of a few tasks around the office that you’ve been putting off, especially when it comes to fire sprinkler maintenance. If you own or manage any type of commercial property, you can take advantage of a number of preventative services offered by the team at Davis-Ulmer. There are a number of issues that may have cropped up throughout the winter, all of which we can identify and solve before they become a larger problem in your building.

ROUTINELY CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS

No matter what time of year it is, testing all of the smoke detectors throughout your building is a smart idea. This is especially true if you’ve noticed one has been beeping or you simply haven’t inspected them in a while. Testing other alarms in your building, including CO2 detectors, can also be done at the same time allowing you to check several things off the to-do list at once.

GET A FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM INSPECTION DONE BY THE EXPERTS

While inspecting the sprinkler systems around your building can be done any time throughout the year, having a professional look at them in the spring is typically a smart idea. That’s because some systems are prone to freezing throughout the winter, especially if there have been several days where the temperature dropped below freezing. Inspecting your whole system in the spring allows you to check everything over for any signs of damage, allowing you to have peace of mind that if needed, they’ll be ready to handle any fire problem.

REPAIR IF POSSIBLE, REPLACE IF NOT

If any aspects of your fire sprinkler system need to be repaired or replaced, the professional team at Davis-Ulmer can take care of the job in no time. Not only do we offer inspection and testing on all systems in your building, we can also install new systems as needed.

These are just a few of the reasons that spring is a great time to have a professional ensure your building’s fire protection systems are in working order. Request a quote today from Davis-Ulmer or call the emergency service number in your area if you need immediate assistance. We are your full-service fire protection company serving New York and surrounding states.

Prevent Your Sprinkler System From Freezing This Winter

winterize your home and sprinkler system As the snow hits us here in Buffalo, New York, Davis Ulmer would like to remind our customers to check on the sprinkler systems in their homes and businesses to ensure that pipes are properly protected and heated from the elements. Less than two weeks ago, a sprinkler system in Plainsview, Texas burst after roofers failed to finish installing the roof’s trim before a winter storm hit. Exposed to freezing temperatures, the sprinkler system’s pipes burst, leaving the building drenched in two inches of water. To ensure an accident like this doesn’t happen to you, there are a few precautionary measures to take when the weather gets cold.

Check Your Heating System

Ensure the water running through your sprinkler system does not freeze this winter by checking your heating system as the weather gets cold. Regular maintenance is an important part of running your home or business and winter is the most important time to have your furnace in top shape. While you are checking the heat, also look around your establishment for cracks in windows and drafty areas. Seal up any gaps you find to keep your property warm and safe throughout the coldest months of the year.

Keep Temperatures Up

Even if you aren’t in the office on weekends, it is important to keep the heat running at your business. Buildings with wet sprinkler systems should not allow their temperatures to drop lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, so switch your thermostat to low instead of switching it off when you go home on Friday night.

Schedule a Winter Maintenance Appointment

Haven’t gotten around to your sprinkler system’s annual maintenance check? Now is the perfect time to have it looked over to ensure that everything is functioning properly and there are no chances of pipes freezing. To set up your winter appointment, contact us online or give us a call at 877-691-3200. We work with customers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

Sprinkler System Suppresses Fire in Oxford’s Covered Market

Here at Davis Ulmer, few things make us happier than when a sprinkler system saves the day. And just two days ago in Oxford, England a fire sprinkler system prevented an important piece of the historic area from going up in flames. On the morning of Monday, December 28, 2015, a refrigerator in Oxford’s Covered Market set on fire, but was quickly put out by the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue team – with the help of the shop’s fire sprinkler system.

According to Rewley Road Fire Station Watch Manager Simon Piper, “If it not been for the sprinkler system, it is extremely likely that this incident would have spread throughout the Covered market, causing great loss to this heritage property and the local economy.”

The Oxford Covered Market is home to a wide variety of shops and has an important place in the city’s heart. This historical building would have been a tragic loss, which was thankfully avoided thanks to the safety precautions taken by business owners.

FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS CAN HELP SAVE LIVES

Regardless of where you live or operate a business, a sprinkler system is an important way to protect yourself and those around you from a potentially dangerous situation. Accidents happen all the time and fires can spread quickly, destroying property and harming individuals nearby.

DAVIS-ULMER: HELPING KEEP PEOPLE SAFE SINCE 1946

With 2016 just a couple days away, Davis Ulmer encourages families and businesses across New York and New Jersey to have fire sprinkler systems installed or checked for annual maintenance. With eight locations throughout the area, we are happy to help keep your home or business safe. To learn more about our services and to schedule an appointment, contact the location nearest you today. We work with customers in the Northeast region of the United States.

Sprinklers Putting out Landfill Fires

Throughout these blog posts, we have done our best to educate you the reader and the public as a whole on the benefits and necessity of fire sprinklers. We have discussed fire codes, how the seasons affect that need, and how buildings, large and small, absolutely need fire sprinklers nowadays. Every so often we come across a news story that puts a smile on our faces, such as the case with the a news story we came across regarding fire sprinklers and Nantucket, as reported in the Cape Cod Times.

Mary Ann Bragg writes, “A construction debris fire this morning at the town landfill was slowed by a new sprinkler system, Nantucket Fire Chief Mark McDougal said. “Having a system that activated right away saved us a lot of time and effort,” McDougal said.”

Outdoor Fire Protection

While you may not think of fire sprinklers as having an impact on outdoor fires, they absolutely do. Just look at Nantucket. In the past, the landfill has been peppered with fires, as landfills are apt to do. The difference this time around was that a fire sprinkler system was installed, which cut down suppression time by a whole lot. Usually these fires would take hours and, in some cases, even days. Needless to say, fire sprinklers save time, energy, and money – and the cherry on the top? No one was injured!

While the cause of the fire has not been determined, area residents can rest assure that no fire will get out of control. Firefighters can rest easy too; they have backup!

Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company is a fire sprinkler expert that installs sprinkler systems for the residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental industries. Our NICET certified design technicians will work with you every step of the way to ensure you have the fire protection you need from the design to maintaining and servicing your system. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get a fire sprinkler system installed whether its new construction or retrofitting an existing building.

What Is the Bringing Safety Home Grant Program?

banner3 At Davis Ulmer, we take fire education very seriously and believe that everyone, old and young alike, need to know the ins and outs of fire safety and prevention. Thankfully, the National Fire Protection Association agrees with us. Back in June, they announced it had awarded grants to 16 organizations to fund sprinkler advocacy efforts across North America.

According to this Fire Engineering article, “The Bringing Safety Home Grant Program will assist the grant recipients, including U.S. state sprinkler coalitions and other North American safety advocates, by supporting activities that showcase the importance of requiring home fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes.”

FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS REDUCE DEATHS BY 80%

Nowadays it seems like there’s no time for hardly anything, let alone thinking about the fire sprinkler situation in your home, building, or business. There are multiple jobs to do, bills to pay, and other things. Sometimes you need a little nudge, for someone or a group to educate you on the importance of fire sprinklers. Armed with these grants, the recipients are poised to do great and socially beneficial work.

Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA, sums it up best: “Sprinklers are gaining momentum as more residents and policy-makers understand the value of them in new homes. Home fire sprinklers can reduce home fire deaths by about 80 percent and direct property damage by about 70 percent.”

The term life or death gets thrown around all the time now it seems, but when it comes to fire sprinklers, that term is 100% true, so buff up on your education and spread the gospel according to fire sprinklers!

Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company is your local fire protection company in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. We have been designing, installing, and servicing fire sprinkler systems for over 70 years. Our 24/7 emergency response team is ready to go in your time of need. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you.

How to Maintain Smoke Alarms

Fire Detector Often the simplest fire detection and prevention tools are the ones that save the most lives, which is my smoke detectors and alarms are so important. However, even if you have multiple detectors installed throughout your property, they are useless unless they are working properly. Even if you believe your detectors are on and working, you don’t want to wait until an actual fire starts to find out. Several times a year you should test your alarms to ensure they are working as intended. Take a look at the following steps to learn how to correctly test your alarm and fix it if it isn’t working.

TEST ALARMS REGULARLY

The first thing you should do is let everyone else in your home know that you are testing an alarm. You don’t want a member of your family to call the local fire department when there is no fire to put out. Next, you should have someone go to the opposite end of the property to see if they can hear the alarm from the furthest point away from its location. Once they are ready, push and hold the test button for a few seconds until the alarm starts going off.

TEST AND REPLACE BATTERIES

If the alarm doesn’t go off, the first thing you should do is replace the batteries and check to see if the device is on. After doing so, test the alarm again. If it still isn’t working, you may have a faulty device that needs to be replaced.

Repeat this process with every alarm in your home. You should also get a smoke detector test aerosol can and spray near each device. This will let you know whether or not your device will properly detect smoke in the area. For more fire alarm safety tips, keep checking back with the Davis Ulmer blog!

Davis-Ulmer is your local fire and smoke detection expert in Northeast region of the United States. We have been designing, installing, and servicing fire detection systems since 1946. Davis-Ulmer knows that early detection is a critical component to any fire protection system and fire safety plan so we will work with you to get the fire alarm system you need. Contact us for more information.

Fire Inspection Checklist for Winter

Higher Fire Deaths Show Need for Sprinklers Winter is here, which is actually a perfect time to inspect and update your fire prevention system. The first thing to check for is to assure that any dry pipes are properly equipped to handle freezing temperatures this season. Are all low point drains bled down? If not, start doing this weekly to prevent the pipes from freezing.

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM INSPECTIONS CAN HELP SAVE LIVES

Air driers should be functioning properly. Valve closets also need to be maintained at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Also make sure that the antifreeze you’re using is appropriate for the system you’ve currently got installed. For all indoor pipes, assure the insulation is still up to scruff and heating systems are functioning. Any wall openings or gaps need to be closed up to prevent heat from getting out and cold from getting in.

Swivels need to be lubricated properly and perhaps most importantly, check your fire department connections. For more standards, be sure to check out the NFPA 25, “Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-based Fire Protection Systems.”

KEEP YOUR FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS HIGH

Winter is one of the harshest seasons for fire safety. We’re all cooking huge meals indoors, candles adorn every surface, heaters are on full-blast, and holiday lights are strung about the house. Just because it’s cold and wet outside doesn’t mean it’s time to let up on your fire safety standards. Constant vigilance is key.

Stay vigilant and contact Davis Ulmer Sprinkler Company today for all of your residential and professional fire safety system needs. Our experts are happy to help! We have been providing fire protection systems to customers in the New York area since 1946. We have the knowledge and experience to provide you with a turnkey fire protection system that will help protect you and your loved ones. Contact us today for more information.

Source: http://www.axa-matrixrc.com/documents/maintain_water_based_fire_protection_systems.pdf

Higher Fire Deaths Show Need for Sprinklers

Higher Fire Deaths Show Need for Sprinklers Fires aren’t exactly flooding the streets of Massachusetts, but that doesn’t mean 50 deaths from residential fires in just Massachusetts alone this year isn’t being paid attention to. Among them were plenty of young and disabled or simply couldn’t escape the fires, and it’s because of the highest number of fire deaths in Massachusetts occurring that the state is realizing it needs to do something about fires.

FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS SAVE LIVES

Most homes are fitted with smoke alarms these days, but even these devices are nothing when it comes to actually giving residents the time to escape from an already raging fire. This is why sprinkler systems exist, and why Massachusetts is finally looking at changing some of their laws so that multi-room and large family homes need to have sprinklers installed.

A LIFE IS WORTH IT

This would be one of the first major pushes for residential homes to have sprinklers installed, and result in quite a change for many family homes, especially the initial costs that would need to be put worth for the installation of the sprinklers. Of course, it is only a question being proposed to the Board of Building Regulations and Standards. In fact, it had recently been removed from the new building requirements in Massachusetts, to have sprinklers installed in buildings such as apartments and large homes.

Maybe with the rise of fire deaths though, the Board of Building Regulations might just realize how important those sprinklers can be, and make a new decision. For now, 50 deaths in a year for a single state is a reasonable amount of deaths to these people. Hopefully that will change.

Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company is a full-service fire protection company that has installed fire sprinkler systems since 1946. We are New York’s premier fire protection company. Our NICET certified technicians will work with you to design, install, maintain, and service your fire protection equipment so they work as they were designed to do in the event of a fire. Contact us today for more info.

Source: http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2014/11/03/mounting-fire-death-toll-underscores-need-for-sprinklers/d7ZgCUNGtPlpv0ttNP9scL/story.html