Water mist technology continues to be a relatively new concept when it comes to fireplace suppression, yet it is proving to be an thrilling improvement within the trade. As the industry evolves, so do the laws, legal guidelines and requirements to find a way to enhance safety and enable development. These can vary largely from country to country, and even area to area.
The method by which a water mist system operates is an identical mechanism to the normal sprinkler system in that the nozzles are often activated by way of a bulb which blows at a specific temperature permitting for the activation of the mist via a low-pressure water piping system.
Here we have a look at how some water mist nozzles are produced and put in – from arriving as a large ‘bar’ of steel, to changing into the environment friendly water mist nozzles we see put in in many new projects/developments throughout much of the globe at present.
The metallic arrives for slicing
Here at Dual Mist Ltd, Stainless Steel 304 is used for many parts as this could be very sturdy and corrosion resistant in comparison to other related metals. The body is machined out of Brass CZ121, which arrives as massive bars of steel which would possibly be delivered to the warehouse in 3m lengths. This is then reduce into two smaller parts able to insert into the machine. Not all water mist firms have the power to machine the parts they require in-house although it may possibly show very useful for price and production purposes as we’re about to see.
Machining
The steel is fed to a Nakamura WT150 CNC lathe. This high-performance Japanese machine tool is provided with carbide tooling and high-pressure by way of coolant methods, with the twin-spindle and twin-turret making haste of the otherwise difficult components. A Citizen M532 Sliding Head Lathe is used for the smaller elements.
A Citizen L12 additionally makes the filters with a functionality of drilling 365 holes in fifty one seconds, utterly automated – this means it may possibly turnover an unimaginable 4,000 filters in a weekend completely unmanned.
The brass heads are additionally de-burred on the machine, removing all sharp edges earlier than being polished and sent for Electroless Nickel Plating. This supplies a corrosion-proof coating to the brass, enabling it to become much more sturdy. All parts are then inspected for dimensional accuracy earlier than the meeting stage.
This Technifor Laser machine engraves each nozzle in preparation for the testing levels.
Assembly
There are many small elements of varied sizes and shapes that make up the nozzle – In the DM4R nozzle, (as seen on the leak-testing pic) there are a complete of thirteen components or ‘components’. These components are then meticulously put collectively and assembled by the manufacturing staff requiring a good quantity of labour earlier than the ultimate product is achieved. Various phases embrace tightening with specially adapted instruments, pressing utilizing a hand-press and utilizing a particular ‘Locktite’ formula at some stages which is a threadlock that stops fixings from coming unfastened in the course of the operational lifetime of the product. The final stage of meeting is rigorously loading the bulb and making use of the right load to it utilizing a torque wrench.
The assembled nozzles are then placed on one other machine so as to be labelled and uniquely recognized utilizing a serial number. At Dual Mist Ltd this is accomplished on a Technifor Laser Engraver fitted with a 4th axis unit before they’re able to be placed via the assorted phases of testing.
Testing
Cull Testing
Also often identified as bubble testing in layman’s terms, this take a look at is to make sure no damage has occurred to the bulb throughout meeting and is a critical test for LPCB approval. The take a look at entails using a high-powered microscope to measure the dimensions of the bubble in each bulb before placing in warm water so as to shrink the dimensions of the bubble to nothing. Once that is checked, the nozzles are then left to rest and return to room temperature before the bubble is measured as soon as once more to find a way to guarantee it has returned to the unique measurement inside a small tolerance.
Leak Testing
Every nozzle can be stringently tested for leaks by making use of 24-bar stress for 1 hour and ensuring no water has escaped. It is rare for any leaks on the production line, however that is a particularly important stage of the testing as leaks may happen if filth is trapped inside the seal face.
Activation Testing
On a monthly basis, random nozzles are additionally tested for activation by putting the nozzle on a stress jig at various pressures and applying heat to the bulbs. The nozzles ought to all activate cleanly throughout the complete strain range specified to that nozzle.
A member of the manufacturing staff uses a microscope and software program to determine the scale of each bubble within the bulb.
Approvals
At Dual Mist Ltd, these checks usually are not simply to guarantee the quality of the production line but are additionally an important part of the LPCB Approval. These approvals enable customers to recognise that the merchandise they are shopping for are made to the very best possible high quality standard within the region.
The drawback to this is that the Approval Testing system could be each pricey and time-consuming – sometimes needing to be booked a quantity of months in advance and requiring years of hard work to achieve.
The nozzles produced by Dual Mist have been put via their paces at BRE Global when it comes to both hearth testing and component/type approval.
Tamper proofing
In order to ensure that nobody is tempted to interfere with the grub screw holding the bulb, a small plastic bung is pressed into the grub screw. The strain load setting on the bulb is then subsequently fastened.
The nozzles are then ready to be packaged and despatched off for installation.
Here is an example of a control panel having been installed in The Claridges Hotel, London, UK. This is where the system is operated.
Installation
Rather than having to make use of the heavy and labour-intensive metallic pipes typically utilized in high-pressure systems, low-pressure water techniques can use CPVC piping. This is a special kind of fire-resistant plastic enabling quick installation. Instead of threading each pipe, a heated glue can be used to quickly construct giant pipe networks. These networks are accredited to deal with up to 12 bar strain. เกจวัดแรงดันถังออกซิเจน are screwed right into a special pipe adaptor utilizing a half-inch fuel fitting.
An electric control panel is fitted for the system management together with pumps and a water tank, normally with a mains feed.
The system is tested, signed off and handed over to the shopper.
The last product once put in. This reveals how we expect to see the nozzles as soon as a challenge has been completed.
Conclusion
As we can see there are many stages to go from metallic to nozzle head with each nozzle taking a significant effort by varied professionals to finish to the approved standard.
Not solely do water mist nozzles require multiple stages of machining and assembling, they need to additionally endure a string of exams to have the ability to be permitted for installation. Once put in, there are even additional exams undergone, sometimes by third-party organisations in order for the entire fire suppression system to finally be handed over to the client.
Water mist expertise assures safety, quality and assurance through the stringent testing that’s required.
With the current publication of water mist requirements, significantly in Britain over latest years, building builders can now be assured that the quality required for water mist techniques is now at an equivalent normal to other suppression techniques.
For extra information, go to www.dualmist.com
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