Ever noticed red locked boxes on the sides of a building? These are Dry Riser.
Easy access and speed will save lives in fire emergencies, as well as reduce property damage. To this end, Dry Risers make your work easier. A dry riser is meant to ensure that firefighters can easily reach water on all floors and compartments during firefighting emergencies.
But to make sure that it works and is legal, your system must be built, fitted, and maintained to suit British Standards in particular BS9990:2015, BS9991, BS9999, and Approved Document B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations (England and Wales).
BS9990 recommends that a dry riser have a visual test every 6 month,s and it is a legal requirement that dry risers are tested annually. But the question is, why are they so essential, and for that matter, why have they found their way into the jurisdiction of Building Regulations?
The answer is simple! Dry Risers can and do save lives, and as such need stringent regulation.
When Are Dry Risers Necessary?
Dry Risers are an essential part of any building design where the height of the building exceeds 18 metres from the fire brigade access level to the top floor.
They consist of a network of water inlets, pipes, and outlets distributed throughout a building, at all levels, and are usually located along the fire-fighting shaft of the building.
Dry risers are made up of pipes that go up and across a building. They have a special valve at ground level where firefighters can connect their equipment – this is usually found outside the building. On each floor, there are valves located in fire lobby areas or other protected fire zones.
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Dry Riser System- How Does It Work
To use a dry riser, firefighters simply connect the hose on the fire engine to the inlet valve located on the ground floor of the building.
This makes it possible for them to pump pressurised water up the building through the system’s vertical piping. The firefighters can then attach a shorter hose to one of the outlets nearest to the fire on any level of the building.
This system will ease the work of firefighters in terms of being able to fight fire at any level of the building without necessarily dragging long and heavy hose down the stairs, through the building to the ground.
Ultimately, dry risers help save lives by significantly reducing the amount of time that firefighters need to get pressurized water where the fire is located.
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About The Dry Riser And Wet Riser- How They Differ
According to British rules, dry risers must be installed in buildings that are taller than 18 meters but shorter than 50 meters. For buildings over 50 meters high, wet risers are needed instead.
The key difference is that wet risers always contain water (that’s why they’re called “wet”).
They connect to the main water supply and have pumps, usually in the basement, to create enough water pressure for the upper floors. Wet risers can supply about 1500 liters of water every minute, giving emergency teams immediate access to water.
The Main Components Of A Dry Riser
- Water Connection Point: Found at ground level in a locked box where firefighters attach their pumps and hoses to fill the system with water
- Main Pipes: The central pipes are made from strong materials like treated steel that go up the entire building
- Floor Outlets: Water connection points on every floor, usually in stairwells or safe areas, where firefighters can connect their hoses
- Air Release System: A valve at the top that lets air out when water goes in, making sure the pipes fill completely
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Dry Riser Regulation And Legal Requirement
In Britain, the standard BS9990:2015 explains how to properly install, test, and maintain fire-fighting systems like dry risers.
Important Rules from BS9990:2015:
- Buildings over 18 meters must have dry risers
- Water inlet boxes must be 400-600mm above the ground
- If this isn’t possible, local authorities must approve the alternative location
- Water inlets should be within 18 meters of where fire trucks can access and clearly labeled
- Each floor needs water outlets, with no more than 45 meters between them, placed 800mm above the floor
- Regular checks and upkeep are mandatory
- Visual checks every six months, plus yearly pressure tests at 12 bar
- All test results and repairs must be documented
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Summary
Dry risers are essential fire-fighting equipment for any building. Required in occupied buildings at least 18 meters tall, these systems help firefighters fight fires more effectively.
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