What Does Dry Riser Mean In Construction?
What Does Dry Riser Mean In Construction?
A dry riser is a system of pipes and valves that runs up through a building, allowing fire fighters to easily access water from each individual floor.
Dry risers are required in buildings over 18 metres above ground level, where there is an excessive distance between entrances and the upper floors.
The pipes are empty when not in use, but can be filled with water by fire service pumping appliances when necessary.
In contrast, wet risers are permanently filled with water and have the advantage of providing pressure without needing to be connected to a fire service pumping appliance.
Dry risers must be inspected and tested regularly to ensure they are functioning correctly and ready for use.
Fire safety signs on dry risers are essential for protecting lives and complying with regulations.
How Does A Dry Riser Installation Done?
Dry risers are used to supply water within buildings for fire-fighting purposes.
They consist of a conduit of dry pipe made of galvanized steel that runs along the façade of the building and contain landing valves on each floor, including ground unless agreed with building control.
Dry risers should be designed and installed in accordance with BS9990: Code of practice for non-automatic fire-fighting systems in buildings: 2015.
- The installation of a dry riser system removes the need for firefighters to have to drag charged fire hoses through the building to the upper floors.
- The dry riser is then charged with water from the fire engine, usually augmented from the nearest fire hydrant.
- The dry riser inlet is installed at the fire brigade access level and is usually housed in a red glass fronted box.
- Dry risers should be inspected and tested regularly to ensure equipment is functioning correctly and ready for use.
Problems can be very serious in the event of a fire, and are typically caused by incorrect installation or maintenance.
What Is Difference Between Wet Riser And Dry Riser?
The main difference between a wet riser and a dry riser is that a wet riser is kept constantly pressurized with water from either a mains supply or a water storage tank, while a dry riser is not pressurized.
Wet risers are typically installed in buildings over 50 meters tall, while dry risers are found in buildings below this height.
Both systems feature an interconnected system of pipes that can provide water to all floors of the building for firefighting purposes.
However, due to the higher pumping pressure needed for wet risers, they require regular maintenance and inspections to ensure normal operation and avoid unexpected malfunction in case of fire.
What Are The Advantages Of A Dry Riser?
Dry risers are an important part of fire safety systems in buildings, providing a quick and easy way for firefighters to access water on multiple floors.
Dry risers consist of a system of pipes, water inlets, and outlets that span the entire height of the building.
The pipes are filled with compressed air which prevents water from entering until a fire activates one of the valves.
The advantages of dry risers include their ease of installation, as they require no special equipment or facilities, and their speed, as they allow firefighters to quickly access pressurised water where the fire is located.
Additionally, dry risers help ensure that buildings are properly compartmentalised for fire safety.
In contrast to dry risers, wet risers are permanently filled with water and provide a more consistent pressure than dry risers.
However, wet risers require more maintenance than dry risers and can be more expensive to install.
Dry risers are typically found in buildings over 18m above ground level or where there is an excessive distance between entrances and upper floors.
How To Maintain A Dry Riser?
Dry riser maintenance is essential for ensuring the safety of building occupants. According to the British Standard BS9990:2015, dry risers must be pressure tested once a year up to 10 bar for a minimum of 15 minutes.
This is the only effective way of testing the equipment. Additionally, there is a requirement by BS9990:2006 that the dry riser system is visually inspected every 6 months by a trained and qualified fire safety professional.
Fire & Safety Solutions Ltd. provides dry riser servicing and maintenance, including pressure testing and visual inspections.
FireTech Dry Risers also offers step-by-step guidance on dry riser maintenance, while Dry Risers Direct provides comprehensive dry riser testing and service contracts.
Intelligent Security & Fire also provides dry riser system repair services for existing systems regardless of make or model.