You may have noticed them around high-rise buildings and not even given them a second thought. But, what is a dry riser?

They are used to deliver water within buildings for fire-fighting purposes. They do not actually contain water in them when they are not in use. Instead, they are charged by water by fire service pumping appliances when necessary.

Dry Risers have an inlet connector at rescue service vehicle access level and landing valves at locations on each floor. They are typically contained in accessible, but secure enclosures on the external face of buildings and are identified as a ‘dry riser inlet’.

Dry Risers themselves should be within fire-fighting shafts, and where necessary in protected escape stairs. At the top of dry-riser pipework an air valve is provided to allow air in the dry riser to escape when the riser is charged with water.

Dry Risers should be inspected and tested regularly to ensure equipment is functioning correctly and ready for use. in the event of a fire and the fire service needing to deliver water to an upper floor level, the dry riser must function correctly; failure can be catastrophic and seriously endanger life and property.

So now you can answer the question, what is a dry riser?

Total Safe provide comprehensive testing and maintenance of Dry Risers throughout Essex, London and the South East, to help local businesses to be compliant, but most importantly, safe!

If you have a Dry Riser on your premises, and are questioning whether or not you are compliant with regulations, contact Total Safe UK today.