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#126 – Fire Bell Placement: Mounting an Outdoor Bell Near an FDC March 24, 2023September 18, 2018 Most consumers choose a high-voltage, alternating-current (AC) fire bell—like the 10″, 120-volt model at the top of this page, which works nicely with the electronics (flow or pressure switches) used to sound an alarm. Buy it here. Is […]

#341 — Tools for Sprinkler System Backflow Valve Repair and Maintenance April 21, 2020 Check Key tools make it easy and safe to service check valves in backflow preventers Maintaining backflow preventers is vital to ensuring that harmful contaminants from building systems don’t pollute city water supplies. But without the proper tools, attempting sprinkler system

#88 – The Evolution of Local Fire Regulations: History and Processes that Shape U.S. Building Fire Code December 14, 2018December 21, 2017 Most jurisdictions within the U.S. have a set of minimum building standards including fire regulations designed to protect life and property. These building codes have helped stock commercial buildings with extinguishers and fire

#162 – Why American Cities are Retrofitting Fire Hydrants with Storz Hydrant Converters April 3, 2019 Public safety concerns lead officials to invest in threadless connections for existing fire hydrants Fire hydrants provide a supply of water to first responders at convenient locations. But when firefighters can’t quickly connect those hydrants to fire hose, the

#29 – Flexible Sprinkler Drops: What You Need to Know October 31, 2022November 11, 2013 Variable lengths, flexibility, and orifice sizes allow flexible drops to ease a common struggle for fire sprinkler contractors The exact placement of sprinkler heads can prove challenging for installers. But it’s an important task, both for the safety of the

#235 – What Size Valve Wheel Wrench Do You Need? July 25, 2019 Valve wheel wrench length and grip size impact available leverage, ease of use, and compatibility with handwheels It’s surprising just how much effort can go into turning a wheel. In refineries, along railways, and in other environments where using hand-operated valves is

#39 – What is a Tamper Switch for Fire Protection Systems? June 26, 2023February 19, 2016 A tamper switch is a supervisory device that ensures your fire sprinklers are ready to save lives Most building fire sprinkler systems are essentially made up of various fire sprinkler heads, pipes, fittings, and valves — and in some

#277 – Guide to Fire Hose Reels and Racks for Standpipe and Hose Systems November 23, 2022October 2, 2019 Leading fire and building codes have pushed indoor hose installations to the margins, but their use (and potential usefulness) endures Fire hose reels and fire hose racks are part of certain standpipe and hose systems—but many

#320 – NFPA 13 Seismic Bracing Requirements: Cable Sway Braces December 16, 2022February 4, 2020 Learn where seismic cable sway bracing is needed and how to install it In the previous installment of our series on seismic protections for fire sprinklers, we introduced the principles of sway bracing. Here, we take a detailed look at