Dry risers are an essential element of fire safety in modern buildings, designed to ensure a rapid delivery of water to combat fire. With this technology comes dry riser building regulations that a dry riser system must comply with to ensure it’s effective and safe for use. We’ve broken down what dry risers are, the main points of the legislation, key points of having a dry riser installed, and the consequences of not adhering to these policies.
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What Are Dry Risers?
Dry risers are vertical pipelines installed within buildings to enable firefighters to access flowing water on high floors in buildings. Unlike a wet riser, which is always filled with water, dry risers are empty until activated. Firefighters use a fire service appliance, typically located outside the building, to fill the dry riser, which is released on the floors through outlet valves. They’re effective by reducing the need to pull long fire hoses through the building, which speeds up extinguishing a fire.
What Are The Dry Riser Regulations UK?
The main dry riser regulations UK are outlined in the British Standard BS 9990:2015 and the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005. It is a legal requirement that new dry riser installations must meet these standards:
- Mandatory in buildings over 18 meters tall.
- Dry risers should be installed in buildings where the highest floor is between 11m and 50m above ground level.
- Dry riser cabinet heights must be between 400mm and 600mm from finished floor levels. If this isn’t possible, it must be discussed with local authorities.
- Dry riser inlet valves must be signed and no more than 18 metres from the fire brigade access point.
- Dry risers just have an operating pressure of 12 bar.
- The run of horizontal connecting pipes in dry risers must not exceed 18 meters in length.
- Dry riser landing valves must be on each floor of the building, and no more than 45m apart.
- The heights of landing valves should be 800mm above the floor.
- Pipes should have an internal diameter of 100mm for buildings with a single outlet per floor, and 150mm for taller buildings or those with multiple outlets per floor.
- There needs to be one outlet per 900m².
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Where Should Dry Risers be installed?
As well as being mandatory in buildings over 18m tall, the dry riser regulations UK require different buildings to have dry risers:
- High-rise residential buildings.
- Commercial office buildings.
- Hotels and hospitality establishments.
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities.
- Schools and educational institutions.
- Shopping centres and retail locations.
In these buildings, the external inlet should be located on the exterior wall of the ground floor near the street for fire truck access and should be within an enclosure that has a sign indicating the inlet. The enclosure must contain at least two instantaneous hose connections and a drain-down valve for quick access and effective drainage. Typically, they should also have a glass window for easy access, as well as being located in or similar to a fire escape exit.
Commissioning and certifying a dry riser
Dry riser building regulations require dry risers to be tested and commissioned to ensure the equipment is in good working condition. Once a dry riser is installed, the contractor must provide an installation certificate to the responsible person or building management to show adherence to the law. After every test, a report and certificate should be produced as evidence that the dry riser is functional.
How To Test Your Dry Risers
Dry riser regulation in the UK requires regular inspections throughout the year. There must be a 6-month visual check, as well as a 12-month water test (also known as a full pressure test or hydraulic test). These tests can be carried out by the responsible person or by a professional company to ensure that your dry riser system is compliant.
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Dry Riser Visual Inspections
The visual inspection for dry risers regulations in the UK is primarily an anti-theft or anti-vandalism check. During the inspection, the system is examined to identify any obvious signs of damage, tampering, or obstruction that will affect its functionality. These checks help to identify issues that can be fixed before causing problems. It is vital to document the inspection and quickly repair or replace any damaged components. The test should be carried out by the responsible person, and the records stored safely in case they need to be reviewed.
Annual Dry Riser Testing
Dry riser building regulations require a more in-depth dry riser test every 12 months. This is a physical test of the installation, including a wet pressure test. This requires the system to be filled with water to a pressure of 12 bar for a minimum of 15 minutes to catch any leaks. Typically, an air test is carried out before the water test to avoid the risk of flooding. A test of all valves, washers, seals, inlets, and outlet valves is also conducted with a check of the dry riser cabinet and signage. The test also ensures the system can handle the pressure if the dry riser is ever needed. An inlet can be installed on the roof to avoid flooding the floor when testing.
Who Is Responsible For Testing Your Dry Riser?
The person responsible for following the dry riser building regulation BS 990:2015 can be the owner of the property, a landlord, or a facilities manager. If a fire occurs, the responsible person will need to demonstrate that all dry risers in the building have been tested annually and there is a valid certificate of compliance. The responsible person should always be present when carrying out the inspections, regardless of whether the inspection is carried out by themselves or an independent inspector.
Risks Of Non-Compliant Dry Riser
Failure to follow dry riser building regulations can have severe consequences:
- Invalid insurance – Insurance companies require fire safety equipment, including dry risers, to be maintained to the standard of their regulations. If inspections are missed, the insurance may become invalid, leaving the builder-owner financially responsible for all damages.
- Loss of life – If a dry riser isn’t maintained and fails to function when needed, this may prevent adequate water from being supplied to suppress a fire, possibly resulting in death.
- Extensive Fire Damage – An unmaintained dry riser system is more likely to fail, meaning the flames will be harder to extinguish, causing further fire damage to a building.
Trust Crusader Fire to Keep You Compliant
Here at Crusader Fire, we believe in protecting you and your building from all possible fire-related dangers, including dry riser regulations. We have years of experience in the industry and are a trusted supplier of fire prevention systems and maintenance. If you have a business that needs protection, contact our team of experts to ensure your safety in the event of a fire.