Fire supression systems

I don't belive we service anything tha has a -job- bulb in it.
I havent seen one in years.
 
Douglas,
I have one in front of me - system was being serviced at a large sports bar we cleaned downtown, and it was on floor under appliance. The rivet insert is dated 'SR-03'. Seems a bit old to me. I can't match with your color description since this is more of the mysterious terminology used by you high-tech specialists, but it may be close to the 'Mave' you mention (whatever that is). To me it is plain old purple color liquid. Cannot read the complete temp on the bulb, but looks like '-00 F'. Could it be 300 F? Given the hi-temp cook operations and high volume (very large mulit-hood 7 story location) would you be comfortable with 300 degree links? Looks scary to me.
Richard
 
To answer your original question. "Just wondering if anyone disables the fire protection system when cleaning?"


Only if the sytem looks to be faulty or in need of service,or the conduit is plugged full of grease, then we deactivate a system.
 
Mauve is one of those colors that only women recognize. to me it looks like a purple color. The mauve/purple is rated at 360° F. I would feel better with a black job link which is rated at 500° F.What is supposed to be done is to tie a thermomoter to each link and run the appliances, then check the temperature readings on the thermomoters. The put in the links based upon the temp requirements. Nobody does that, we all use whatever we feel comfortable with. I use 450° F links because I feel good about that temp. I do not want to carry differnet links because one day, I will use the wrong temp link and have an unwanted system activation. I was told once by a guy that started in the suppression business at 16 years, that the time difference between a 360 ° F link and a 450 ° link was one second. that was when I quit stocking different links temps for kitchen systems.

Industrial suppression systems temp requirements are different, and use lower temp links. We use 185 ° for non- heated paint booths and 280° for heated paint booths.

I went out to the Sprinter van and looked a the Job links. I could not read the numbers on the rivit. Maybe the SR-03 means the link was made in 2003?

Did you notice how I used the ° symbol? { ¯ ² ³ ® ¥ Hit the "alt" key, hold it down and type in "0176", release the "Alt" key. there is a bunch of cool symbols available.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
Am I Crazy ( Yes )

When I go to clean a hood .. I spray the hood , duct links and myself with some serious caustic... Then Blast the heck out of it.. Duct Did you say I really Clean them and the fan I clean them too.Fire systems I inspect them, Change The Links and Tag them.. ( UL300 wet chem only ) I value my insurance... And dang if I don't go out and clean the concrete to all in one night... I know this sounds impossible for just 1 guy to do all this in one night but what can I say.... On an Average about $ 600.00 a night 4 nights a week..... And I still can't pay my bills , gues I better sale my house in the hampton's......

We are installing a new system next week at a new bar and grill ( 2 pyro-chem 460's)

Oh did I say We >>>>> Yep I am talking about my lazy buddy .. It took me 2 days to get him over to look at the hood where the system will be installed ..

Lossy $ 6800.00

For one Night


Guess I will have to get my Corvette next year..

I actually like what I do .. 14 years ... never pinned a system and cleaned them all the time and never had one go off... Amen..

Anybody got some wood.
 
Here is a frayed wire that was improperly installed at a McDoanlds.
It was directly looped around the bracket hole and not hooked to a S link.
If it had been hooked to a S link it would not have deployed.
The surface where the hole was cut through the bracket was very rough/sharp and cut the cable when a employee tried to remove a filter. Simply by putting some pressure on the cable with a filter it cut the cable and dumped the system.

Douglas-- Is it common practice to run the cable through the bracket hole and back to itself and attach with a cable crimp? Or should there be a S hook involved?
 

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From the picture, I cannot tell if it was routed as per the Ansul Manual. The Ansul Manual shows the cable being looped through the 2 small holes in the detector bracket, then the cable crimp installed. It is too bad because the cable does exactly like you saw. A better way is to use the fitting that goes in the big hole. Then use the set scrrew to hold the cable. But do not forget, the set screws used by all of the systems manufacturers will cut the cable. I try to remember to check those cable terminations. Did the system trip?

For my new friend from PA, where's my fax for the system install??

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
Doug, Yes the system dumped. Im not shure of the fitting your talking about that goes in the big hole. The cable went through the LARGE hole in the bracket and was crimped back to itself.

Fax- going to take some pictures and e mail them to you along with a computer assited sketch as far as the install goes.
 
the fitting screws into the end of the link housing, and is held by a nut. The nut has a hole, the cable goes through the hole and is held in place w/a set screw. The difference between the series detector and the terminal detector is the large fitting. The terminal detector is the last one in line. Some people will use the series detector as the terminal detector, and will crimp the cable as you found it. To see a picture, you have to go to the Ansul manual. Brooks does not show the terminal detector.

When you recharged the Ansul,did you use the Ansul flushing chemical? That stuff is supposed to prevent rust. And did you remove and clean the nozzles and vent plug?

Douglas Hicks
 
The terminal end should have been set up in the manner of the first schematic below. Or as you stated as in the second schematic. There was no hardware in the end of the bracket for the set screw assembly.
It was routed back to itself through the rough end of the bracket and crimped back to itself.

No, I did not recharge the system, at the time we were not servicing fire systems. I do remember reading about the flush out chemical and checking all nozzles pertaining to the Ansul system.

I worked for a fire service company when I was 18. I've been cleaning hoods ever since then.
 

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Badger/RG and Pyro Chem do use s-links. Ansul does not use s-links, I do not know the reasons behind the methods. S-links do seem to be more trouble when changing links. It is hard for my fingers to work the ML links and the s-links at the same time.

The upper link housing is a terminal detector and the lower is a series detector.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
I could not locate a picture/schematic of the ansul terminal bracket on the net.
Take a pic or 2 of one if you can find the time and post it.
 
I saw something funny yesterday

I went to the pearl country club to inspect there rangeguard fire system.. I was excited that I got this account because it is part of anandale country clubs.. pretty big in mississippi.. anyhow I got up in the kitchen and took the control head cover off .. ( Badger Control heads YUK ) anyways I pulled the filters out to change the links and guess what ( NO LINKS ) just three link brackets with cable run all the way thru them .... I showed the manager on duty and he didn't know what the hell I was talking about .. so I fixed the problem.. And I decided to call the other fire equipment company that had installed this system about a year ago.. I was told by the owner of the company that the guys who installed that system did not work for him anymore... Now thats just crazy... don't ya think..

Well got to go clean schimmel's restaurant this morning ...... Make my lil $375.00 and come on back to the house and continue suffering with the flu... Check yall later..
 
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