Winterizing Dry Sprinkler Systems

While it’s always important to inspect and test your fire protection systems, preparing fire sprinkler systems for winter will keep your fire safety equipment in working order during the winter months. Fire sprinkler systems are an important component of fire protection that can prevent enormous and costly damages. Additionally, sprinkler systems protect employees or residents of commercial buildings by extinguishing fires early.

Why? Throughout the year water vapor builds up inside the sprinkler piping and this vapor condenses and collects on the walls of the pipes. The fire suppression system’s piping is designed to drain to various low drain points through the building. This water collects at the low points and will freeze if the water drops below 0°C. When water freezes, it expands with enough force to split sprinkler pipes.