Need Antifreeze or Dry System at Dust Collector?

12/29/2020

I'm looking for guidance on protecting a bag house/dust collector at a sawmill facility.

The unit comes with outlets attached for nozzles/sprinklers. Some of the existing ones at the facility are protected with anit-freeze systems, some with dry systems.

Is there a reason you would need to use anti-freeze in lieu of a dry system for this application?

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5 Comments

Glenn Berger

12/29/2020 09:12:30 am

Today's recommendation would be to use a dry-pipe system due to the issues that have risen with improper mixing of antifreeze systems.

Tyler Blume

12/29/2020 09:20:24 am

I have used heat trace to protect the pipe.

Franck

12/29/2020 09:29:39 am

The use of antifreeze was probably dictated for cost reasons.
The advantage of the antifreeze system is that you can connect it directly to a wet system, and the equipment for the connection is quite limited.
For a dry system, you need a specific dry sprinkler system with own alarm check valve, alarm...
If you protect different areas with a dry system, it is fine, but if you need to protect several areas, spaced, this means several dry pipe systems, with a consecutive higher installation and maintenance cost.
As indicated by Glenn, the issue with antifreeze is the proper mixing. It also requires maintenance and check of the solution to be sure that it will not freeze.

You may have antifreeze systems for single dust collector wher you may had a wet sprinkler system nearby, and dry systems when you have several dust collectors in a reasonable distance to have only one dry pipe system.

Mark Harris

12/29/2020 06:59:54 pm

As Franck notes no reason you can.t do multiple dust collectors off a common dry valve and makes sense cost wise if the dust collectors are close together (but all collectors will be off one flow alarm). Rules for antifreeze have changed over the years and a expansion tank and RP backflow preventer along with maintenance issues may make the dry valve attractive.. May be able to supply dry pipe valve with plant air and listed air maintenance device.

If you are going dry pipe make sure the outlets are located so they don't trap water that could freeze and break fittings or sprinkler and cause false trip. Typically they are set up for sidewall sprinklers to avoid that. .

Brian Spurrell

1/5/2021 06:55:44 am

Located in Eastern Canada, have always used dry system.
Heat tracing seemed to susceptible to damage and failure due to nature of application, vibration and possible physical damage.

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