What is a dry pipe sprinkler system?

A dry pipe sprinkler system is specifically designed to operate in areas where the risk of freezing is high. In this type of system, the pipes are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen instead of water. This pressurized air keeps the water in the pipes back at a valve known as a dry pipe valve. When a fire is detected and the sprinkler heads are activated due to extreme heat, the pressurized air is released, allowing the valve to open and water to flow into the pipes and out of the activated sprinkler heads.

This design is essential for preventing pipe freezing, which can lead to system failures and ineffective fire suppression. It's important to understand that, unlike other systems that are always filled with water, the dry pipe system maintains a pressurized air environment until the need for activation arises.