Wet Pipe Systems
Wet PipeSprinkler System
A wet pipe fire sprinkler system is continuously filled with water under pressure. Each sprinkler head in the system acts as a heat detector. The head contains a thermal-sensitive glass bulb that breaks when the temperature threshold is exceeded, instantly releasing water to suppress the fire. The sprinkler head is selected based on the ambient conditions of the space being protected and its proximity to a heat source. Due to its continuous water supply and instant response, a wet pipe sprinkler system is one of the most reliable and effective options for preventing the spread of fire.
Wet pipe systems are used in areas not susceptible to freezing temperatures, such as office buildings, retail stores, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, high-rise buildings, industrial facilities, etc. With over 110 NICET-certified professionals—nearly half of whom hold the uppermost Levels 3 or 4 certification—Ahern brings extensive expertise and experience to deliver NFPA 13 code-compliant wet pipe sprinkler systems tailored to your needs. Contact us today!
In 2023, we prefabricated orders for over 316,000 sprinkler heads. The average turnaround time was 2.77 days with 99.8% on-time delivery.
Your company has provided our business with the best qualified people in the field and we could not be more pleased with their performance.
Design and Installation Services for Reliable Fire Protection
Ahern will work directly with owners and structural designers to design and install code-compliant wet pipe sprinkler systems that meet the required specifications without interfering with daily operations.
In the design of the system, the verification of a reliable municipal water supply is the first step to determine whether the wet sprinkler system will have the needed gallons and pressure to protect the space. If it is found to be inadequate, water storage tanks and fire pumps close that gap.
Sprinkler head placement and spacing are determined by several factors, including construction type, architectural features, individual sprinkler head listings, and code restrictions. Ahern will work with engineers and owners early on to help reduce the cost of the sprinkler installation if modifications to the building layout can be made.
To enhance efficiency and precision, Ahern’s fire protection fabrication shop prefabricates piping and components to exact specifications, delivering them to job sites as needed. Our skilled field teams ensure that every wet pipe system is installed to meet industry standards and local regulations, delivering reliable fire protection you can count on.
Ahern can also assist in retrofitting wet systems to meet updated building codes and new use cases. By evaluating the building’s current and future use and the needs of both current and new owners, Ahern will design cost-effective modifications to optimize the existing system while ensuring full compliance with current regulations.
Benefits of Wet Pipe Systems
- Immediate Water Delivery: there is no delay in water delivery when a sprinkler head activates, allowing the water supply to be 30% less compared to other types of sprinkler systems. This efficiency reduces the size of fire areas, leading to lower water demands and significant cost savings for building owners through reduced material and labor expenses.
- Building Code Advantages: Installing automatic wet pipe sprinkler systems can eliminate or reduce the need for separate heat and smoke detection systems, offering substantial cost savings. Additionally, these systems allow for reductions in required exit points per building code, providing greater flexibility in building design and space utilization.
- Reliable: Wet systems have fewer components compared to other sprinkler types, making them less complex and less expensive to install, operate, and maintain.
Wet Pipe Sprinkler System Maintenance
Regular maintenance is essential to uphold the effectiveness of wet pipe fire sprinkler systems. In accordance with NFPA 25, inspections are required at various intervals—daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual—depending on the components installed. Additionally, extended testing is required at intervals of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 75 years to ensure long-term reliability.
Ahern’s certified technicians perform thorough inspections, testing, and maintenance of all system components, addressing deficiencies to ensure that the system remains fully operational and ready to respond effectively to fire incidents.
Our sprinkler inspectors have undergone a minimum of 720 hours of coursework and over 9,500 hours of on-the-job training prior to performing inspections.
The Ahern team provided value in preconstruction and embraced the schedule goals to help push the job to the finish line. Everyone on the Ahern team (management and trades) was good to work with and had a positive team attitude.