Victaulic FireLock™ IGS style V9 sprinkler coupling and grooved sprinklers

Apr 25, 2023

As the world's leading manufacturer of mechanical pipe-joining systems, Victaulic knows all too well the impact that a simplified system solution has on its effectiveness.

Victaulic released the first UL Listed grooved mechanical coupling for fire protection piping services in 1952. Today, Victaulic technology includes a complete offering of fire protection grooved couplings, fittings, sprinklers, devices and accessories to meet the needs of fire protection piping systems.

According to Marcel Ley, Regional Manager Victaulic South Africa, the innovations were created to replace conventional threads on both outlets and sprinklers, with the mechanical connection redefining sprinkler system design and installation in exposed applications, particularly in the storage and warehousing segments.

"The storage, warehouse and distribution centre segments have undergone significant growth and transformation, creating a need for fire suppressions that are easily installed, maintained, and reconfigurable," explains Marcel Ley, Regional Manager Victaulic South Africa. "Victaulic already has a unique portfolio of products and services that offer value and versatility from the street to the sprinkler head, and the Installation-Ready sprinkler technology just compounds the advantages of using Victaulic."

Ley explains that a single bolt makes up the joining of the innovative coupling design, which in turn is fitted onto sprinklers with a connection size of ½-inch, ¾-inch or 1-inch, and transitions to 1-inch allowing for the standardization of 1-inch IGS outlets making the project easier to plan, design and weld. The simplification of the coupling leads to simplified installation, which increases not only on-site job safety, bit allows for ease of maintenance in the future.

Made famous by Victaulic in 2005, the company's Installation-Ready technology allows for ease of installation on site, with the sprinkler and coupling arriving pre-assembled, with no loose parts or preparation required before installation.

"The biggest time-saver and labour management advantage seen with introducing Installation-Ready technology to sprinkler installation is the elimination of sprinkler prep work and the associated consumables such as tape and the like," comments Ley. "By eliminating the need to fit consumables, fitters can instead focus on installing system components and therefore reducing time and unnecessary installation efforts."

Other advantages of the solutions is that they require no complicated training or tools. Utilising visual confirmation of one bolt pad for proper installation instead of using a torque wrench makes installation simple and gives users peace-of-mind.

With installers currently fitting sprinklers with a sprinkler wrench, this physically demanding repetitive motion may lead to unnecessary damage to the sprinkler itself as a result of over-torqueing. This problem is however alleviated with Victaulic's solutions due to the utilisation of a mechanical connection with a single bolt allowing the fitter to use a power tool to save both wear and tear on their body, and avoid applying torque directly to the sprinkler frame.

"Reducing the amount of torque applied to the sprinkler frame and replacing the frictional connection with a mechanical one, in turn reduces the likelihood of leaks when the system is pressurized. Rework due to leaks can add an average of one day per system, which will ultimately result in an unnecessary cost to any project."

"We as Victaulic are committed to providing our customers with simplified solutions that save both time and money, all while increasing overall system confidence. With the advent of our Installation-Ready sprinkler solutions, customers now have access to what has to be the easiest and safest installation method on the market today, which ultimately improves both their productivity and work environment," concludes Ley.

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