Drenchers

Drenchers are a system of water heads that are used for the fire protection. In contrast to sprinklers which are found internally, drenchers are normally found on the exterior of a building to protect against a fire from a neighbouring building. They tend to be positioned on roofs and over windows and external openings.

Another difference between sprinklers and drenchers is that all nozzles in the drencher system are activated simultaneously, whereas individual nozzles in a sprinkler system open when activated.

A drencher system consists of the follows components:

• Water source.
• Pump unit.
• Distribution piping.
• Control fittings.
• Alarm device.
• Special nozzles or water head.

The water heads are like those of sprinklers and may be sealed or unsealed.

The three main types of drenchers are:

• Roof drenchers: Positioned on the roof ridge and throw a curtain of water upwards.
• Wall or curtain drenchers: Throw a curtain of water over openings or portions of a building most likely to admit fire.
• Window drenchers: Positioned horizontally level with the top of a window so as to protect the opening.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Business Sprinkler Alliance.
• Case study A for offices to show where automatic sprinklers have the greatest impact.
• Design benefits of automatic sprinkler systems granted under approved document B.
• External fire spread, Supplementary guidance to BR 187 incorporating probabilistic and time-based approaches.
• Fire detection and alarm system.
• Fire in buildings.
• Fire safety design.
• Sprinkler.
• The impact of automatic sprinklers on building design.

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