Water mist technology is still a relatively new concept in phrases of hearth suppression, but it is proving to be an exciting improvement in the business. As the industry evolves, so do the regulations, laws and necessities in order to improve safety and allow development. These can range largely from nation to nation, 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 usually activated through a bulb which blows at a particular temperature allowing 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 put in – from arriving as a large ‘bar’ of metal, to turning into the environment friendly water mist nozzles we see installed in many new projects/developments throughout much of the globe right now.
The metallic arrives for chopping
Here at Dual Mist Ltd, Stainless Steel 304 is used for many elements as it is extremely durable and corrosion resistant compared to different comparable metals. The body is machined out of Brass CZ121, which arrives as massive bars of metallic which are delivered to the warehouse in 3m lengths. This is then cut into two smaller elements able to insert into the machine. Not all water mist corporations have the ability to machine the elements they require in-house although it could prove very beneficial for price and manufacturing purposes as we’re about to see.
เกจวัดแรงดันอาร์กอน is fed to a Nakamura WT150 CNC lathe. This high-performance Japanese machine device is equipped with carbide tooling and high-pressure through coolant systems, with the twin-spindle and twin-turret making haste of the otherwise complicated elements. A Citizen M532 Sliding Head Lathe is used for the smaller components.
A Citizen L12 additionally makes the filters with a functionality of drilling 365 holes in 51 seconds, completely automated – this implies it can turnover an incredible 4,000 filters in a weekend utterly unmanned.
The brass heads are additionally de-burred on the machine, eradicating all sharp edges before being polished and sent for Electroless Nickel Plating. This supplies a corrosion-proof coating to the brass, enabling it to turn into much more durable. All components are then inspected for dimensional accuracy earlier than the meeting stage.
This Technifor Laser machine engraves every nozzle in preparation for the testing levels.
Assembly
There are many small parts of assorted styles and sizes that make up the nozzle – In the DM4R nozzle, (as seen on the leak-testing pic) there are a complete of thirteen elements or ‘components’. These components are then meticulously put collectively and assembled by the production group requiring a fair amount of labour before the final product is achieved. Various phases embody tightening with specially tailored instruments, pressing utilizing a hand-press and using a selected ‘Locktite’ formulation at some phases which is a threadlock that prevents fixings from coming unfastened during the operational lifetime of the product. The final stage of meeting is carefully loading the bulb and making use of the correct load to it utilizing a torque wrench.
The assembled nozzles are then positioned on another machine to be able to be labelled and uniquely identified using a serial number. At Dual Mist Ltd that is carried out on a Technifor Laser Engraver fitted with a 4th axis unit earlier than they are able to be placed via the various phases of testing.
Testing
Cull Testing
Also often identified as bubble testing in layman’s phrases, this test is to make sure no harm has occurred to the bulb throughout assembly and is a crucial check for LPCB approval. The check entails using a high-powered microscope to measure the dimensions of the bubble in every bulb earlier than putting in heat water in order to shrink the size of the bubble to nothing. Once that is checked, the nozzles are then left to relaxation and return to room temperature earlier than the bubble is measured as quickly as once more to find a way to guarantee it has returned to the unique dimension within a small tolerance.
Leak Testing
Every nozzle can additionally be stringently tested for leaks by applying 24-bar pressure for 1 hour and ensuring no water has escaped. It is uncommon for any leaks on the production line, however that is an extremely vital stage of the testing as leaks may happen if dirt is trapped inside the seal face.
Activation Testing
On a month-to-month basis, random nozzles are also examined for activation by placing the nozzle on a pressure jig at various pressures and applying warmth to the bulbs. The nozzles should all activate cleanly throughout the entire pressure vary specified to that nozzle.
A member of the manufacturing staff makes use of a microscope and software to find out the size of every bubble within the bulb.
Approvals
At Dual Mist Ltd, these tests are not just to assure the standard of the production line however are additionally an essential part of the LPCB Approval. These approvals enable customers to recognise that the merchandise they’re shopping for are made to the best possible high quality standard within the area.
The drawback to this is that the Approval Testing system could be each costly and time-consuming – typically needing to be booked several months prematurely and requiring years of hard work to achieve.
The nozzles produced by Dual Mist have been put by way of their paces at BRE Global in phrases of both fireplace testing and component/type approval.
Tamper proofing
In order to ensure that no one is tempted to interfere with the grub screw holding the bulb, a small plastic bung is pressed into the grub screw. The pressure 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 the place the system is operated.
Installation
Rather than having to use the heavy and labour-intensive steel pipes usually utilized in high-pressure systems, low-pressure water systems can use CPVC piping. This is a special sort of fire-resistant plastic enabling quick installation. Instead of threading each pipe, a heated glue can be utilized to shortly construct large pipe networks. These networks are accredited to deal with as a lot as 12 bar stress. The nozzles are screwed into a particular pipe adaptor utilizing a half-inch gas becoming.
An electric control panel is fitted for the system management together with pumps and a water tank, often with a mains feed.
The system is examined, signed off and handed over to the client.
The final product as quickly as put in. This shows how we expect to see the nozzles as quickly as a project has been accomplished.
Conclusion
As we can see there are many stages to go from steel to nozzle head with every nozzle taking a significant effort by varied professionals to finish to the permitted normal.
Not only do water mist nozzles require a quantity of levels of machining and assembling, they need to also undergo a string of tests to find a way to be permitted for installation. Once put in, there are even further tests undergone, generally by third-party organisations to ensure that the complete hearth suppression system to finally be handed over to the shopper.
Water mist know-how assures security, quality and assurance through the stringent testing that’s required.
With the latest publication of water mist requirements, particularly in Britain over current years, building developers can now be assured that the standard required for water mist methods is now at an equal standard to different suppression systems.
For extra information, go to www.dualmist.com
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