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There Are Two Types of Rising Main

There are two types of rising mains used in buildings for firefighting: wet risers and dry risers. Wet risers are pipes permanently filled with water connected to the main water supply, while dry risers are empty vertical pipes charged with water only when needed using fire service pumps. Dry risers allow fires on upper floors to be attacked more quickly by the fire brigade without having to run hoses through the building.

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Mariah Ibrahim
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6K views

There Are Two Types of Rising Main

There are two types of rising mains used in buildings for firefighting: wet risers and dry risers. Wet risers are pipes permanently filled with water connected to the main water supply, while dry risers are empty vertical pipes charged with water only when needed using fire service pumps. Dry risers allow fires on upper floors to be attacked more quickly by the fire brigade without having to run hoses through the building.

Uploaded by

Mariah Ibrahim
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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There are two types of rising main: Wet Risers and Dry Risers:

1. Wet Riser

A wet riser is a pipe kept permanently charged with water, which is immediately available for
use on any floor at which a hydrant outlet (sometimes known as a landing valve) is provided.
The riser is connected to the main water supply of suitable capacity with a shut-off control
valve installed. If the building height is such that the pressure in the main is insufficient, a
booster pump will be necessary at suitable levels to ensure the maintenance of the required
pressure and flow.

Where these pumps are employed, the landing valves must be fitted with a pressure
regulator to ensure that the pressure head against the pumps is not transmitted to the hose.

A similar function to that of a wet riser is performed by what

is known as a 'down-comer'. This, like a wet riser, is

constructed of vertical piping (or falling main), but is

supplied with water from a tank in the roof or at

intermediate levels or, in the case of a falling main serving an

area below ground or access level, the supply will be direct

from the main water supply.

2. Dry riser

A dry riser is simply a vertical pipe, which is normally kept

empty of water, fitted with outlets at various floor levels in

the building. It is not connected to a water supply, but is

charged when required by means of fire service pumps. In

effect, it is a substitute for a line of hose, over which it has

many advantages. It enables an upper floor level fire to be

attacked by the fire brigade with a line of standard hose

without the loss of time entailed in having to lay hose up

through the building from the street. It obviates the risk of

water damage, which might occur if a hose line burst in a

part of the building not affected by fire.

A dry riser is charged through inlets at ground level, which


are usually housed in external glass-fronted boxes.

Each box is normally identified by the words DRY RISER

painted in red on the glass. Inlets may occasionally be found

below pavement level in a box with a cover similar to that

used for a hydrant.

An air valve is usually fitted at the highest point in the pipe

to allow contained air to discharge to atmosphere when the

riser is charged with water. Without such a provision, air in

the riser might be compressed in the upper part of the pipe

and prevent it being fully charged. The air valve, if fitted, is

constructed to admit air to the pipe where it is drained after

use and so prevent the creation of the partial vacuum, which

would, result in pockets of water being trapped.

Dry risers are provided with a drain cock fitted beneath the

inlets to enable the system to be drained after use.

Additionally, where an outlet is fixed at a position below the

inlet valves, a further drain valve is fitted at the lowest point

of the riser.

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