What is a Dry Riser?

A key feature of fire protection systems across the world, dry risers are installed with the purpose of supplying water to multiple floors of buildings quickly and easily. The reason it is called a ‘dry’ riser is that there is no water in the pipe; the pipe is filled with compressed air which prevents water entering the pipe unless a fire activates one of the sprinklers. Alternatively, should a fire break out, a fire engine can connect a hose to the dry riser and pump water up to the desired level. The inlet for the dry riser is visible on the…

False Fire Alarm Call Outs to Result in Charges

The London Fire Brigade has announced it will start charging businesses if they call out the fire brigade to false alarms more than 10 times. The fire brigade was called to 403 businesses more than 10 times during the past financial year, and these false alarm calls have cost the brigade approximately £800,000. It is said that had charges been in place last year, hospitals would have been billed with over half a million pounds of fines. The false alarm call-out figures were even more shocking for non-residential and other buildings, with the fire brigade visiting over 25,000 false alarm calls…

False Fire Alarms: The Risks, The Consequences and How to Avoid Them

Automatic fire detection alarms are installed in a host of commercial, industrial and multiple-dwelling residencies throughout the UK in order to help keep properties and their occupants safe from the destructive dangers of fire. Automatic detection reacts to an increase in heat or the presence of smoke and then gives an auditory or, if required, visual warning, in the event of a suspected fire. An incredibly important, and sometimes life-saving, piece of fire safety equipment, automatic detections sometimes reacts to triggers which are not necessarily a symptom of fire. For example, steam, cigarette smoke, aerosol sprays and smoke from cooking are…