We are Specialists in Dry Risers
If you are looking for a dry riser, need maintenance, servicing or testing or you just want to find out more then we can help. We are a team of specialists with many years of practical experience in the industry. We work on dry risers and closely associated projects full time. This quite simply enables us to be the best at what we do.
Read more about the specific services we offer by following these links or read on to find out more background about dry risers. Or simply get in touch for a chat.
What are Dry Risers?
A dry riser is a system of pipe work and valves that runs up through a building. The system allows fire fighters to easily access water from each individual floor of the building. It consists of a vertical pipe with a water inlet on ground level located on an external wall and outlets known as landing valves, which are usually located in a dry riser cabinet on each floor. The dry risers are usually located in the fire fighting shaft.
The video below ‘What Are Dry Risers and Where Are They Used?’ from Leicester Fire and Rescue Service briefly demonstrates the use of a dry riser (Video transcript).
When are Dry Risers Necessary?
Dry Risers are an essential part of any building design where the height of the building exceeds 18 metres from the fire brigade access level to the top floor. They are also required where there are floors more than 10 metres below ground. The question is why are they so essential, and for that matter, why have they found their way into the jurisdiction of Building Regulations?
Put simply, the answer to both these questions are very straight forward – Dry Risers can and do save lives and as such needs stringent regulation.
How do Dry Risers Work?
The fire fighters fill the pipe with pressurised water by connecting the fire engine hose to the inlet on the ground floor. They can then connect hoses directly to the lifesaving water supply on the floor nearest to the fire using the outlet valves connected to the dry riser.
Connecting the hoses in this way is a much quicker system for the fire fighters. The hoses they use to connect on each floor are shorter and therefore lighter and there is no requirement to run long heavier hoses up through the whole of the building. Using Dry Risers saves time and ultimately saves lives.
Dry Riser Regulations and Legal Requirements
To ensure its effectiveness and legal compliance, your system needs to be designed, installed and regularly tested to meet British Standards namely BS9990:2015, BS9991, BS9999 and Approved Document B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations (England & Wales).
If there is ever a fire, the person responsible for the building i.e. the property owner, landlord or facilities manager, will need to show that the dry riser system has been tested and that there is a valid certificate of compliance in place.
BS9990 recommends that a dry riser has a visual test every 6 months and it is a legal requirement that dry risers are tested annually.
Using a specialist company for the design, installation and testing of dry riser system is essential. Dry Risers Direct can help.
How We Can Help
We offer a comprehensive design, install, testing, maintenance and commissioning service which meets all the legal requirements. You will have peace of mind that your dry riser system is in safe hands. Please call 0800 689 4034 or email site drawings in PDF form to enquiries@dryrisersdirect.co.uk and you will receive a quote within 24 hours.
Dry Risers Direct are proud sponsers of the fire fighters charity. Read more about the charity by clicking on the link.
