Water mist technology is still a comparatively new concept by way of hearth suppression, but it is proving to be an exciting growth within the business. As the business evolves, so do the regulations, legal guidelines and requirements to have the ability to enhance security and allow improvement. These can range largely from nation to country, and even region to region.
The way in which a water mist system operates is a similar mechanism to the normal sprinkler system in that the nozzles are normally activated via a bulb which blows at a specific temperature permitting for the activation of the mist through a low-pressure water piping system.
Here we take a look at how some water mist nozzles are produced and installed – from arriving as a large ‘bar’ of metal, to turning into the environment friendly water mist nozzles we see installed in plenty of new projects/developments across much of the globe right now.
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Here at Dual Mist Ltd, Stainless Steel 304 is used for so much of elements as this can be very durable and corrosion resistant compared to other similar metals. The physique is machined out of Brass CZ121, which arrives as massive bars of metal which may be delivered to the warehouse in 3m lengths. This is then minimize into two smaller parts able to insert into the machine. Not all water mist companies have the power to machine the elements they require in-house though it could show very beneficial for price and manufacturing purposes as we’re about to see.
Machining
The metal is fed to a Nakamura WT150 CNC lathe. This high-performance Japanese machine device is equipped with carbide tooling and high-pressure via coolant techniques, with the twin-spindle and twin-turret making haste of the in any other case complicated elements. A Citizen M532 Sliding Head Lathe is used for the smaller components.
A Citizen L12 also makes the filters with a capability of drilling 365 holes in 51 seconds, utterly automated – this means it might possibly turnover an incredible 4,000 filters in a weekend fully 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 provides a corrosion-proof coating to the brass, enabling it to turn out to be far more durable. All components are then inspected for dimensional accuracy before the assembly stage.
This Technifor Laser machine engraves each nozzle in preparation for the testing stages.
Assembly
There are many small components of various 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 parts are then meticulously put together and assembled by the production staff requiring a good quantity of labour earlier than the ultimate product is achieved. Various levels embody tightening with specifically adapted instruments, urgent using a hand-press and using a selected ‘Locktite’ formulation at some phases which is a threadlock that prevents fixings from coming loose in the course of the operational lifetime of the product. The last stage of meeting is fastidiously loading the bulb and making use of the proper load to it utilizing a torque wrench.
The assembled nozzles are then positioned on one other machine so as to be labelled and uniquely recognized utilizing a serial number. At Dual Mist Ltd that is done on a Technifor Laser Engraver fitted with a 4th axis unit earlier than they’re able to be placed through the varied levels of testing.
Testing
Cull Testing
Also known as bubble testing in layman’s phrases, this check is to make sure no harm has occurred to the bulb throughout meeting and is a crucial check for LPCB approval. The test includes using a high-powered microscope to measure the scale of the bubble in every bulb earlier than placing in heat water in order to shrink the scale of the bubble to nothing. Once this is checked, the nozzles are then left to relaxation and return to room temperature before the bubble is measured once again to have the ability to guarantee it has returned to the original size within a small tolerance.
Leak Testing
Every nozzle can be stringently examined for leaks by making use of 24-bar pressure for 1 hour and guaranteeing no water has escaped. It is uncommon for any leaks on the production line, but this is a particularly vital stage of the testing as leaks might happen if dirt is trapped inside the seal face.
Activation Testing
On a month-to-month foundation, random nozzles are additionally tested for activation by inserting the nozzle on a strain jig at various pressures and applying heat to the bulbs. The nozzles ought to all activate cleanly across 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 in the bulb.
Approvals
At Dual Mist Ltd, these checks aren’t just to assure the standard of the production line but are additionally an necessary a half of the LPCB Approval. These approvals enable clients to recognise that the merchandise they are buying are made to the best attainable quality commonplace within the area.
The disadvantage to that is that the Approval Testing system could be each expensive and time-consuming – generally needing to be booked several months in advance and requiring years of exhausting work to realize.
The nozzles produced by Dual Mist have been put by way of their paces at BRE Global in terms of each fireplace testing and component/type approval.
Tamper proofing
In order to guarantee that nobody is tempted to intrude with the grub screw holding the bulb, a small plastic bung is pressed into the grub screw. The stress load setting on the bulb is then subsequently fixed.
The nozzles are then able to be packaged and sent off for set up.
Here is an instance of a management panel having been installed in The Claridges Hotel, London, UK. This is where the system is operated.
Installation
Rather than having to use the heavy and labour-intensive metallic pipes usually utilized in high-pressure methods, low-pressure water systems can use CPVC piping. This is a particular kind of fire-resistant plastic enabling fast installation. Instead of threading every pipe, a heated glue can be used to quickly construct large pipe networks. These networks are approved to handle as much as 12 bar pressure. The nozzles are screwed into a particular pipe adaptor utilizing a half-inch fuel fitting.
An electric management panel is fitted for the system control together with pumps and a water tank, usually with a mains feed.
The system is tested, signed off and handed over to the client.
The ultimate product as soon as put in. This exhibits how we anticipate to see the nozzles once a venture has been completed.
Conclusion
As we are ready to see there are lots of levels to go from metal to nozzle head with every nozzle taking a big effort by numerous professionals to finish to the approved commonplace.
Not solely do water mist nozzles require multiple stages of machining and assembling, they need to additionally undergo a string of exams to have the ability to be accredited for set up. Once installed, there are even further tests undergone, typically by third-party organisations in order for the whole hearth suppression system to lastly be handed over to the client.
Water mist expertise assures safety, high quality and assurance via the stringent testing that is required.
With the recent publication of water mist standards, notably in Britain over latest years, building developers can now be assured that the standard required for water mist techniques is now at an equal standard to other suppression systems.
For extra info, go to www.dualmist.com
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