The Threats of Corrosion In Dry and PreAction FPS

Anyone responsible for managing and maintaining a dry or preaction Fire Protection System must be warned of the dangers of corrosion and be educated about the steps they can take to prevent and inhibit the development of corrosion within the system.

What Are Dry and Preaction Fire Prevention Systems?

To understand more about how dry and preaction FPS works, please visit our posts: Nitrogen Generator Systems for Dry Pipe FPS and Nitrogen Gas with Preaction Sprinklers.  There we talk about the characteristics that set those systems apart from traditional fire sprinkler systems, namely that water does not run through the pipes but is replaced by pressurized air or N2 gas holding back a valve until a sprinkler is activated sending water to the sprinkler heads at that point.  One or the other is required for use where temperatures may reach below 40 degrees F.

There is also a difference between dry and preaction FPS, specifically that the preaction system requires the concurrent actions of a separate detection system (heat or smoke) and automatic sprinkler operation before water is released to the fire.


Why Is Corrosion a Threat to Dry and Preaction FPS?

Corrosion is a particular threat to both dry and preaction FPS for some of the following reasons:

• Corrosion can cause pinhole leaks that
• are disruptive to normal operations
• can cause potential damage to equipment or property
• result in loss of revenue due to shutdowns for repair
• cause the continuous introduction of oxygenated water due to repeated draining for repairs and testing
• cause costly ongoing repairs
• Signs of corrosion can be indicative of other problems such as
• non-compliance with NFPA 13
• improper installation, improper slope, trapped air, or inadequate drainage
• improper operation or maintance
• possible microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) activity

Why Install the MICBlast™ Corrosion Prevention System?

South-Tek Systems designed the MICBlast™ Corrosion Inhibiting System specifically for dry and preaction FPS.  This system uses Nitrogen as the Supervisory gas instead of air in order to reduce oxygen levels and eliminate the cathodic oxygen reaction necessary for the development of corrosion.  It is a safe, reliable, and cost effective source of Nitrogen gas that replaces the need for change-out of high pressure Nitrogen gas cylinders.

We invite you to contact South-Tek Systems to learn more about the MICBlast™ Corrosion Inhibiting System and how it can benefit your dry or preaction FPS: 888-526-6284.