Appendix C – Glossary
- accelerators
- quick opening device that speeds up the trip action of a dry pipe valve
- air dryer
- any one of several types of air dryers, such as refrigerated air dryers and desiccant air dryers
- backfill
- earth, soil or gravel (aggregate) used in proper placement to bury underground piping
- cathodic protection
- a method of grounding used primarily on steel water tanks and underground piping to prevent electrolysis
- combined dry pipe/preaction system
- dry pipe system that employs a supplemental detection system
- cross–connection control
- assemblies that prevent potentially contaminated water from flowing back into the water supply
- deluge system
- a system with open sprinkler heads, set up so that when the system is tripped all heads spray simultaneously
- dies
- equipment used to cut external threads in rod or pipe
- dry pipe system
- a sprinkler system charged with air, primarily used to prevent freezing in a cold environment
- escutcheon (plate)
- aesthetic or cosmetic plates through which sprinkler heads enter the building space (sometimes called escutcheon plates)
- excess pressure pump
- water pump that boosts 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 monitors water flow and initiates an alarm signal to a fire alarm panel or equivalent
- flushing connection
- a connection used to flush water from piping and components; for example, at the end of a water main or hydrant
- grade
- 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)
- a process of mechanically joining pipe in which a groove is cut or pressed (rolled) around a pipe to accommodate a coupling
- hangers
- components installed to allow pipes to be attached overhead or to other support structures
- heat-actuated detectors (HAD)
- heat–activated device, triggered when a specified temperature or rate of increasing temperature is detected
- laydown
- a pre-determined 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 system that may or may not contain supervisory air or nitrogen that can be operated through detection or sprinkler activation
- 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
- pipe restraint system
- 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
- installed before or after concrete or other structural placement to enable pipes to pass from one area of a structure to another
- sling
- any metal or synthetic flexible device used to cradle or support a load. Slings are attached to the hoist line of the lifting device to complete the lift
- sprinkler guards
- devices used to protect heads from damage
- standpipe system
- a system to which firefighting hoses may be attached
- suppression systems
- types include wet/dry chemical, gas, clean agent, mist, hybrid
- tamper switch
- device which monitors the opening or closing of a valve by sounding a signal in 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
- smaller or auxiliary piping attached to installed devices such as valves and pumps. Often supplied as a “trim package”
- valves
- device placed in a pressurized piping system in order to control, direct or prevent the movement of chemicals, gases, liquids or other substances
- water motor gong
- a water–operated local audible alarm
- wet pipe system
- sprinkler system charged with water