Waterflow Alarms and Sprinkler Systems

Question 1

What are the two functions a Sprinkler system with a water flow alarm serves?

Answer 1

1. It is an effective fire extinguishing system
2. It is an automatic fire alarm. (An alarm is signaled as soon as a sprinkler head has opened.)

Question 2

What are the 8 common uses a Sprinkler system supervision is provided for?

Answer 2

1. Water Supply control valves
2. Low water level in water supply tanks
3. Low temperature in water supply tanks or ground level reservoirs
4. High or low water level in pressure tanks
5. High or low air pressure in pressure tanks
6. High or low air pressure in dry pipe sprinkler systems
7. Failure of electric power supply to fire pumps
8. Automatic operation of electric fire pumps

Question 3

What is a Check Valve?

Answer 3

The basic design of most waterflow alarms. It lifts from its seat when water flows into a sprinkler system. This alarm then starts an audible signal to alert the occupants in the building that the sprinkler system has been activated.

Question 4

Vane Type Waterflow

Answer 4

Switches have a paddle inserted inside the main supply piping perpendicular to the direction of flow. Upon waterflow, the paddle switch transmits an alarm.

Question 5

What type of sprinkler system can you NOT install a Vane Type Waterflow switch in?

Answer 5

Dry Pipe Sprinkler Systems

Question 6

What three energy sources can a fire pump be powered by?

Answer 6

Diesel, electric, or steam

Question 7

What can cause the pressure in a fire sprinkler system to drop?

Answer 7

If one or more fire sprinklers gets exposed to heat above their design temperature and opens, releasing water

Question 8

When is a Fire Pump needed?

Answer 8

1. When the local municipal water system cannot provide sufficient pressure to meet the hydraulic design requirements of the fire sprinkler system.
2. If the fire protection water supply is provided from a ground level water storage tank.

Question 9

Fire Pump Controller

Answer 9

A control panel containing electrical components such as circuit breaker, switches, relays, and other devices dedicated to the operation of fire pumps.

Question 10

Pump Running Signal

Answer 10

Sent to the central station when the fire pump has been activated

Question 11

Pump Fail Signal

Answer 11

Sent to the central station if the pump fails to activate properly

Question 12

Phase Reversal Signal

Answer 12

Sent to the central station when the motor reverses its direction of rotation. Phase reversal can cause serious injury and motor damage.

Question 13

Gravity Tank

Answer 13

Tank used for water storage and installed on the roof of a building.

Used as a primary or secondary water supply source for a sprinkler system and delivers water from the tank into the sprinkler system when a sprinkler head activates.

Question 14

Label each of the points on this Gravity Tank

Answer 14

1. Float Valve
2. High Water Alarm
3. Pump Stop
4. Pump Start
5. Low Water Alarm
6. Supply
7. Emergency Overflow Outlet
8. To domestic water distribution system
9. Domestic water outlet
10. Normal high water level
11. Emergency overflow water level

Question 15

What is the maximum amount of time that handling a supervisory signal should take, from the receipt of the supervisory signal by the central station, until the initiation of the investigation by telephone?

Answer 15

Four Minutes