The fire fighting system has changed the way of our life, make our life more secure and comfortable. A standpipe system is the most common firefighting system among them. It is used everywhere, like from the high-rise buildings to large or small outdoor yards, including shopping malls, industrial buildings, warehouses, parking structures, tunnels, bridges. It needs preplanning for using effectively, the designs, use, and location of the standpipe system vary as per building structure. For more detailed information, you need to check the article below. What Is a Standpipe And Hose System? A Standpipe system is also known as a dedicating piping system. It is a type of rigid water piping where fire hoses are connected. It conveys water through the fire hoses from one territory of the structure to another to extinguish fire whenever require. Hoses are flexible hollow pipe which conveys water from the source to the fire. Outdoors, it attaches either to a fire engine or a fire hydrant, and indoors, it connects to a building’s standpipe or plumbing system permanently. The Standpipe & Hose system has comprised of pipes, valves, hose outlets, and allied equipment. The plans are designed for trained building occupants or the fire department use. It can install vertically or horizontally. Classifications Of Standpipe System Based on the occupancy classification and building height, standpipes have three significant categories: Class I Standpipe: For use in the fire department, class I standpipes serve a 2.5-inch fire hose connection. These connections must match with the fire department’s hose thread and are typically found in stairwells of buildings. Class II Standpipe: For use in cabinets, Class II standpipes serve a 1.5-inch fire hose connection. These are intended for trained occupant use and are spaced according to the hose length. The hose length and connection spacing are intended for all spaces of the building. Class III Standpipe: Class III standpipes have both connections of Class I and II. Many times, these connections will include a 2.5-inch reducer to a 1.5-inch link. Variations Of Standpipe Systems NFPA 14 is a standard that designs, installs, and maintains the system. The correct edition should correlate with the adopted code of the jurisdiction. When it is determined that a standpipe system is required, then the type of system is determined. These types include: 1. Automatic Wet Standpipe Systems: In the Automatic wet standpipe systems, there is pressurized water all the time. The courses provide the need for pressure and water when the hose valve is opened automatically. Firefighter needs not to run this system. The system generally used in high rise buildings to pump sufficient water with adequate high pressure, where FDC would not reach an emergency. It is not suitable to use in freezing temperatures. 2.Semi-Automatic Standpipe Systems: In the semi-automatic standpipe systems, there is mildly pressurized air in the pipes where water can be pressurized or not pressurized. The system conducts by preaction deluge valve where the firefighter connects hoses with the system outlet. A signal sends to the alarm panel. Then deluge valve activates that allow water to discharge. This system is suitable to use in freezing temperatures. It requires an on-site fire pumper. 3.Automatic Dry Standpipe system: In the automatic dry standpipe system, the air is filled with through the standpipe at a constant pressure. Water entered into the system when the hose valve opened, and the air escape from the pipes. 4.Manual Dry Standpipe system: In the manual dry standpipe system, there is no water or pressure through the pipes. This system is for fire department use. The system requires a fire department pumper to supply the need pressure and water supply through a fire department connection. It is difficult to detect any internal damage of pipes for corrosion or other harms for the absence of water or pressurized air in the tube. 5.Manual Wet Standpipe system: In the manual wet standpipe system, water always remains in the pipe. But the water is not pressurized to fight fire by just opening the hose valve. A firefighter must require who uses a fire pump to attain enough pressure. For the remaining water in the pipes, it is easy to detect any leakages before an emergency. The system is less expensive. It is suitable for hot temperatures area. Places Where Standpipe System Should Install Check below to know where and which type of pipe will be installed: The standpipe system should place in every high-rise building along with boatyards, marinas. According to NFPA 14, the Class III standpipe system should install if the floor height is more than 30feet from the fire department access and require a fire hose to run long distances. For non-sprinklered buildings, the travel distance of the hose outlet is not more than 130 feet. For sprinklered buildings, it is not more than 200 feet. More than these distance, fire-rated doors should install in halfways. In non-sprinklered group A building and basement, the Class I system should install. Any structure size more than 1000 square feet, the class III system should be available. Class I or Class III standpipe system should be available in the building heliport that should be extended to the roof level. Final Words Fire standpipe and hose systems are highly reliable and basic fire protection requirement for every high rise structure. It provides not only people protection but also property protection. The system can mitigate fire at an early stage because it offers an effective emergency response with manual fire control.