Appendix C – Glossary
- accelerators
- quick opening device that speeds up the trip action of a dry pipe valve
- air dryer
- a system used to remove the water vapour from compressed air for use in dry preaction and dry–pilot systems
- backfill
- earth, soil or screened gravel (aggregate) used in proper placement to bury underground piping
- cathodic protection
- a method used to reduce or prevent corrosion caused by electrolysis in underground piping and tanks
- combined dry pipe/preaction system
- dry pipe system that employs a supplemental detection system
- cross–connection control
- the use of backflow preventers that prevent potentially contaminated water from flowing back into the potable water supply
- deluge system
- a system with open sprinklers installed that will discharge water from all sprinklers simultaneously once the automatic water flow control valve opens
- dies
- equipment used to cut external threads in rod or pipe
- dry pipe system
- a sprinkler system normally filled with pressurized air or nitrogen used in areas subjected to freezing conditions
- escutcheon (plate)
- plates or other devices used to cover the annular space around a sprinkler which is designed to maintain the position of the sprinkler in the centre of the penetration
- excess pressure pump
- automatic water pump that maintains a wet system pressure greater than the highest anticipated supply pressure to prevent false alarms
- fire pump assembly
- water pump designed to supply or supplement flow and pressure dedicated to fire protection
- flow switch
- a device that will initiate a water flow alarm upon a water flow condition
- flushing connection
- a connection used to flush debris from piping systems
- grade (pitch)
- the slope of a pipe or trench, usually expressed as a ratio of rise (change in elevation) to run (change in distance)
- grooving (of pipe)
- the process in which a groove is cut, pressed or rolled into a pipe around its outside circumference
- hanger assemblies
- components that provide overhead support for pipe and piping components
- sprinkler guards
- a device installed on sprinklers to limit mechanical damage
- heat-actuated device (HAD)
- heat–activated device, triggered when a specified temperature or rate of increasing temperature is detected
- lay down
- a predetermined area where material is stored
- mark–ups / as–built drawing
- a revised set of drawings submitted by a contractor upon completion of a project that reflect all changes made in the specifications and shop drawings during the construction process
- preaction systems
- a sprinkler system employing automatic sprinklers that are attached to a piping system that contains air that may or may not be under pressure with a supplemental detection system installed in the same areas as the sprinklers
- pressure switch
- a device used for monitoring high or low pressure in piping system
- pump room
- also called pump house. A designated area or room in a building or outside a building that contains a fire pump and its components
- reaming
- a process to restore the pipe to its original inside diameter, usually by removing the internal burr or flare formed when the pipe was cut
- seismic/sway bracing
- a restraining system that prevents differential movement between the pipe and the building structure during an earthquake
- shop drawings
- a drawing or set of drawings produced by the contractor, supplier, manufacturer or subcontractor for the purpose of installing, fabricating and bidding
- sleeve
- a device used to provide an unimpeded path through a building penetration
- sling
- a metal or synthetic device used to support a load for the purpose of lifting or relocating
- suppression systems
- a system that causes a sharp reduction in the heat release rate of a fire that prevents its regrowth by means of direct and sufficient application of fire protection media directly to the burning surface
- standpipe system
- a system of either vertical or horizontal pipe that provides a water supply to facilitate manual firefighting within a building
- tamper switch
- device which monitors the opening or closing of a valve by sounding a signal in the fire alarm panel
- thrust block
- concrete restraint cast in place at a critical point in underground piping installations, in order to prevent hydraulic pressure from moving or separating pipe joints
- trim
- piping and components attached to valves, tanks, and pumps to facilitate proper operation
- valves
- device placed in a piping system to control or direct the movement of fluid
- water motor gong
- a water–operated local audible alarm
- wet pipe system
- a sprinkler system employing automatic sprinklers attached to a piping system containing water and connected to a water supply so that water discharges immediately from sprinklers opened by heat from a fire