Dry Risers

Residential and Domestic Dry Risers

A dry riser is a system of pipework and valves that runs up through a building which allows fire fighters to easily access water from each individual floor via a dedicated valve.

Dry risers are by far the most efficient way to get water to all floors in a building as it saves the fire fighters the trouble of carrying and pulling up their hoses and equipment.

We install our dry risers to BS 9990 2015, we also commission, test and provide a maintenance service.

Our fire mains have a nominal bore of 100mm and are designed to withstand a pressure of 1.5 half times maximum operating pressure. The pipe and fittings are made from galvanised steel and are manufactured to BS EN 10255.

We install isolation valves on each floor and these valves are secured in the open position by a chain and padlock.

Dry Riser Service and Maintenance

It is a legal requirement to maintain all fire fighting equipment, this includes suppression systems and dry risers. It is also a condition of any insurance policy and could result in your insurance becoming void.

A dry riser is required to be tested under pressure annually with a visual inspection every six months.

Common Questions

Rising mains can be either wet or dry, depending on whether or not they have water in them. A dry riser has no water in it, so fire fighters can attach their hoses to inlets that provide a steady stream of water that comes out of an outlet on the desired floor. This saves fire fighters time as they don’t need to run hoses up the stairs of buildings.

You should visually inspect all the elements of the dry riser every six months and the system fully serviced annually.

The main difference between a wet riser and a dry riser is that a dry riser is designed to remain dry when not in use, only being charged with water by the fire fighters during fire emergencies or testing.

On the other hand, a wet riser remains full of water at all times, with the help of a system of tanks and pumps.