Freezing pipes-FPS

Blockages and Broken Pipes – Do You Know if Your System is Ineffective
Due to Freezing in Pipes?

Maintaining optimal performance for a power generating or chemical processing facility’s fire
protection system demands a great deal of attention. Plant staff must continuously monitor the
Fire Alarm Control Panel, conduct regular testing
at prescribed intervals and perform ongoing
system maintenance, along with other related
tasks. Amongst all of these duties, a critical
consideration is sometimes neglected– freezing
pipes. Most power generating or chemical
processing facilities in the United States are
susceptible to freezing temperatures during the
winter months. This means that water that is

subjected to these cold temperatures will
inevitably freeze. If the proper measures are not Ice within sprinkler pipes can result in costly
damage, such as the costs associated with a
taken to prevent water from freezing within separated pipe, or it can block water flow,
pipes, the consequences can be disastrous. rendering systems ineffective during a fire

Is Your Facility at Risk for Frozen Pipes?

There are several different conditions that can result in frozen pipes and any facility that is
located in a cold‐weather area is at risk. Perhaps the most common incident that results in
freezing pipes is inadequate drainage of the system following activation. Whether the system
was tripped because of false detection, a routine inspection or an actual fire, failure to
thoroughly drain the residual water will result in freezing if the ambient temperature is
sufficiently cold.

Another circumstance that can subsequently cause water to freeze is the installation of a wet
pipe system in an area that is not heated. In new construction applications, the heat may not be
functional at the time that the fire protection system is installed. The lack of heat allows the
potential for pipes that are continuously filled with water to freeze.

Costly Damage and Nonfunctional Sprinkler Systems – The Consequences of Frozen
Pipes

The extent of the damage incurred from frozen pipes varies, depending upon the diameter of
the pipe, the amount of water present and the temperature of the environment. Typically, the
grooved or threaded fittings are the first part of the system to succumb to the stress caused by
the expansion of the ice. However, if initial damage goes unnoticed, it is possible that the
problem can escalate until a pipe itself bursts, propelling the resulting damages into the tens of
thousands of dollars. Impairment to the system’s header, switches, air gauges and water gauges
are also associated with frozen pipes.

A less obvious impediment to the system occurs when a mass of ice creates a blockage within
the pipe, hindering or completely blocking the flow of water. This situation is particularly
hazardous because it is not overtly apparent that the system is not capable of functioning at full
1
2265 Carlson Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062
847‐849‐8720 ∙ www.femoranshs.com ∙ femoranshsinfo@femoran.com QSR‐72‐213
REV 5/5/2011
capacity. It is possible that a plant could be completely oblivious of an ice blockage until a fire
occurs and a sprinkler system fails to discharge water.

Simple Solutions to Eliminate Costs and Mitigate Risk

In perspective of the potentially costly damage or consequences of a malfunctioning system, the
solutions that a plant can put into place to prevent freezing pipes are relatively simple. In
scenarios where a system has tripped and there is lingering water within the pipes, the water
must be drained. Before the valve is reset, the main valve, any low areas, or drum drips, should
be drained to rid the system of any excess water. This straightforward, yet effectual, practice
should be executed every time water enters a dry pipe to prevent freezing water.

Pipes that are continuously filled with water but are exposed to cold environments, such as pipe
leading from a valve house outdoors, require a solution that will maintain the temperature in
the pipe above freezing. Heat tracing these pipes is an effective method for preventing ice
blockages or damage to the system caused by expansion, and involves running heat‐emitting
wire along the pipe.

Although these solutions are fairly basic, plants too often incur cost and put their facility at
unnecessary risk because the issue of freezing pipes was either overlooked or the plant staff was
not aware of the gravity of the consequences. After a system has been installed and tested, it is
critical that staff members are fully trained about how to prevent freezing pipes and that
continual education occurs at the facility to train new employees and remind existing staff of
these best practices.
2
2265 Carlson Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062
847‐849‐8720 ∙ www.femoranshs.com ∙ femoranshsinfo@femoran.com QSR‐72‐213
REV 5/5/2011

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Blockages and Broken Pipes – Do You Know if Your System is Ineffective

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