DRY & WET RISERS

Installation & Maintenance of Dry Risers

General Overview: Importance Of Commercial Riser Systems In Buildings

The British Standard used for design, installation, testing and maintenance of Wet and Dry Risers is: BS 9990 Non-automatic fire fighting systems in buildings Code of practice. It is a legal requirement that any new dry riser should be installed in buildings where the floor is between 11 & 50 meters above ground level.This is roughly equivalent to buildings of between 3 – 17 stories. A 6 monthly visual check which is primarily an anti theft or anti vandalism check, should be carried out by a competent person with the records stored in a safe place, should they be required by the local authorities. The annual water test should be carried out to 12 bar for 15 minutes.

Wet Riser Pumping Systems

Wet risers are installed into new buildings above 50 metres, or in cases where it is difficult to provide a suitable breeching inlet position to a dry riser. Wet rising mains are intended for use by the fire brigade or other trained personnel.Two automatic pumps should be installed, one a duty pump and one as standby pump which should automatically operate in the event of the failure of the duty pump. If you have a pump installed to support your wet riser this will need to be included within the service inspections. The pumps can be either electric motors or diesel engineers.

If both pumps are driven by electric motors, the electrical supplies should be totally independent or have a changeover switch installed, which can changeover to the independent supply if the primary power supply fails. The independent supply can be provided from an automatically started generator. Each pump should provide a water flow of 1500 litres/min which should be sufficient to provide a running pressure of 8 bar at two landing valves being used simultaneously.

How Does A Riser System Work?
A dry riser system is a network of pipework and valves that allow the fire service to easily and quickly deliver water to upper floor levels. The maintenance of these pipe networks and associated valves is essential to ensure they do not leak, can maintain the pressures required for firefighting and are accessible for quick and easy connection.

Ensuring the fire and rescue service have fast access to water supplies throughout your premises is one of the most effective ways of fighting fire. The fire service will use their own tender (fire engine) to charge a dry riser pipework full of water. They will then connect their hoses to each outlet valve on each floor to fight the fire at each level. This quick and easy way of water distribution saves time and is a safer way to fight fires, ensuring the fire is more easily contained and quickly extinguished.

What Is The Difference Between A Dry & Wet Riser?

• A dry riser system is designed to be charged with water by the fire brigade
• A wet riser system is kept full of water via water tanks and pumps

Servicing & Maintenance
We offer servicing and preventative maintenance for all dry riser systems in accordance with BS 9990 2015 Code of Practice for Non-Automatic Firefighting Systems in Buildings. British Standards recommend that service visits should be carried out every 6 months. Every year one of these service visits is a major service (also known as a wet test) which would include more comprehensive tests such as the hydraulic pressure test. The remaining test is a visual inspection, which due to the accessibility of dry risers and their vulnerability to vandalism, is highly recommended. A sample of maintenance checks we carry out is as follows:

Major Inspection & Test

• Hydraulic pressure tests of the pipework – this tests for leaks by pressurising the pipework to 10 bar for 15 minutes
• Inspection of the pipework while filled with water and under pressure
• Visual inspections

Visual Inspections

• Check all outlet valves
• Check all outlet valve washers
• Check access hatches and doors
• Check all inlet valves
• Check all inlet valve gaskets and washers
• Check for damage and vandalism which may affect operation
• Check cabinet glass
• Check cabinet for corrosion/damage
• Check all valves open/close
• Check inlet breeching valve springs and rubbers
• Check signage is present and to latest Standard

For all service visits we will provide you with full certification to prove you have had your dry riser system serviced by a competent fire engineer, ensuring you are meeting current legislation requirements.

Why should I choose a BAFE registered company for my dry riser system?
SS Systems is a British Approvals of Fire Equipment (BAFE) registered company. This means that all fire systems we install and maintain meet the strict regulations set by BAFE. BAFE, under their scheme SP203, inspect us to ensure we are installing and maintaining fire systems to a recognised standard. They also check our insurance, quality control, performance to codes of practice and much more.

What Is The Next Step?
If you’re looking for a regular maintenance schedule for your dry riser system, then please contact our friendly team on 03300417170 or leave your details and we’ll provide you with a comprehensive maintenance quotation.

Externally Monitored to Ensure that we meet a High Standard of Service.

As members of the SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board), We maintain service records and monitor our success. The SSAIB, is a leading certification body for organisations providing security systems and services, fire detection alarm systems, and monitoring services. So, you can be confident that we strive to provide our clients with a reliable and professional level of service.