Benefits of vacuum technology
Vacuum technology solves many of the problems encountered with existing sprinkler systems (wet, dry…), while retaining their effectiveness in fighting fires. These benefits apply to all stages in the life cycle of a sprinkler system.
Vacuum technology solves critical problems for customers, including freezing, corrosion, leaks and reliability issues.
It is certified by the North American expert Factory Mutual, and the European ANPI.
The system is tried and tested: the first installations have been in operation for more than 25 years.
The economic and environmental benefits of the vacuum system:
- Longevity and reliability compared with wet/dry systems, which lose their performance after years of corrosion and sludge build-up
- Re-use of pre-existing networks (after checking condition and compliance with regulations)
- Easy maintenance and operation
- Quick and easy installation
- No contaminating leaks; no/less corrosion, siltation, micro-organism proliferation
- Better risk management means optimized insurance premiums
- Lower maintenance costs
- Lower heating costs: no need to heat vacuum networks
- No need for antifreeze (glycol, etc.)
- No need for galvanized steel pipes
- No need to use drinking water: all water sources can be used: rain, river, sea, recycled, waste…
- Certain areas/sites can now be protected by sprinklers thanks to VACTEC Sprinkler® technology
Revolutionary innovation
Vacuum technology is an innovation in sprinkler systems, whose main operating principles (sprinkler water spraying, etc.), structure (water source feeding one or more networks, etc.), dimensioning and engineering principles (risk analysis and dimensioning of networks and water sources in accordance with existing rules, etc.) are reused. Specific rules and recommendations, as well as the opportunities offered, are provided by VACTEC Sprinkler® (validated by FM) for the application of vacuum technology.
Vacuum technology is a revolution in sprinkler systems, offering unprecedented breakthroughs:
- No leaks from the sprinkler system to the surrounding environment, eliminating any risk of contamination in protected areas (food industry, pharmaceutical industry, etc.). A leak in the sprinkler network will cause ambient air (positive pressure) to be drawn into the network under vacuum (negative pressure)
- Radically more reliable, longer lasting and simpler to operate than existing wet or dry systems…
- Highly flexible in use for all types of configurations (tree, mesh, looped networks, etc.) and all types of triggering (without or with preaction; without, single or double interlocking)
- Vacuum sprinkler systems are truly dry, and vacuum technology provides a natural response to the problems of frost, corrosion and the proliferation of micro-organisms that progressively degrade system performance by jamming, limiting their lifespan, and disrupting their environment through contaminating and/or degrading leaks. This entails repetitive maintenance operations that disrupt the use of protected premises
