Supply of hydrants, hoses, fire doors and emergency exits, and scheduled maintenance, as for fixed fire-fighting pumping stations.

A leader in Olbia and the province of Northern Sardinia for everything related to fire safety systems for over 30 years, we at Idini Estintori are able to offer a complete service, ranging from the simple supply of approved devices, to the operations of mandatory maintenance to be carried out through tests, periodic checks, scheduled reviews and extraordinary maintenance of active and passive protection tools such as fire doors and emergency exits, hydrants, hoses and fire-fighting pumping stations.

Supply and maintenance of hydrants and hose reels

Fire hydrants and fire hoses are active protection tools against flames which, by generating a continuous and immediate jet of water, are effective extinguishing tools, indispensable against the principles of fire. Since these are water systems, they are indicated exclusively for class A fires. They must also be used exclusively on solid materials, after having disconnected the power supply of the area affected by the fire.

Although the two terms -hydrants and hose reels- are often used as if they were synonymous, there are substantial differences between the two tools, in terms of construction and methods of use.

The reels consist of a 20-25 mm semi-rigid tube wrapped in a rotating reel, which is in turn inserted in a wall box equipped with a lid with a breakable protective screen. At the end of the tube we find a lance equipped with a tap with a gate valve. Compared to classic hydrants, hose reels have a lower water flow rate, which is why current legislation requires their use mainly in the context of lower risk activities.

Hydrants, on the other hand, consist of a protection box closed by a breakable glass inside which we find a tap, a 45mm in diameter flexible tube and a dispensing lance. The water supply is usually connected to the municipal aqueduct or to a fixed fire-fighting pumping station.

In our shop you will find a wide range of materials and devices for all kinds of hydrants and hoses: hoses, cassettes and approved lances. Our products, all Made in Italy, stand out for their high degree of quality and durability.

We also take care of periodic checks and mandatory maintenance interventions on hydrants and hoses which are essential to guarantee their correct functioning, as required by current legislation (UNI EN 671/3).

• Periodic six-month check:

  this is a visual check which has the purpose of verifying the operating conditions of the components (presence and status of the hose, presence of the hose-saving saddle, lubrication of the lance and of the hinges), the accessibility to the box, the presence of an adequate signal-specific sign and, in general, the absence of material damage (defects, signs of deterioration or corrosion, leaks).

  Once the inspection has been completed, our technician will compile an intervention report and update the maintenance tag.

• Annual maintenance - Functional testing (UNI EN 671-3 / 6.1):

  this includes everything within the six-month periodic check and consists of inputting the piping, semi-rigid or flat, at the operating pressure of the network (air testing for pressures up to 6 bar, hydraulic testing for higher pressure systems). A function test will also be carried out, checking that the capacity and range of the hydrants or hose reels are adequate.

  Once the above operations have been completed, our technician will compile an intervention report and update the maintenance card.

• Five-year periodic control (UNI EN 671-3 / 6.2):

  this consists of inputting the flexible (hydrants) or semi-rigid (hose reels) piping at maximum operating pressure of 1.2 MPa (12 bar).

  Once the above operation has been completed, our technician will compile an intervention report and update the maintenance tag.

The delivery connections for the fire brigade engine will also be checked (correct installation, lubrication of the taps, check for leaks), so as to guarantee the effectiveness of any intervention by the rescue teams, who will be able to supply water to the existing network in the event of a fault in the supply system or damage to the water system.

Maintenance of fixed fire-fighting pumping stations (hydrants, hose reels, sprinklers)

Pumping stations can be defined as the “heart” of fire-fighting water systems. These are booster sets which guarantee the necessary flow rate and pressure, allowing fire-fighting systems (sprinkler, deluge or hydrant networks) to function correctly and effectively. They are connected to a water reserve (tanks) and are activated by means of pressure switches calibrated by the pressure drop that occurs when the fire-fighting system to which they are connected is activated, manually or automatically.

A pumping station usually consists of:

• a main electric pump for powering the fire-fighting system
• an electric pressurization pump (jockey)
• an emergency motor pump or generator

This composition can change according to the nature of the place of installation.

The design, installation and maintenance of fixed fire-fighting installations is regulated by the UNI EN 12845-2020 standard. This legislation provides criteria relating to the correct positioning of the system, its configuration, the characteristics of flow rate and prevalence that the latter must have according to the level of risk identified in the place of installation, as well as the frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual and annual) and the methods according to which the various checks must be carried out.

• Periodic weekly / monthly check

  The user must check the status of the system and ensure the correct functioning of the sprinkler hydraulic bell; they must also check the operation of the heating system to prevent the sprinkler water from freezing.

  Pump start-up tests must be carried out and the diesel unit checked - if installed - as indicated by the engine manufacturer and by the UNI EN 12845 standard, leaving it running for no less than 20 minutes. In conclusion, the user must verify that the pumping station is located in an environment that actually meets all the requirements of the UNI 11292 standard.

While the weekly and monthly control operations of the stations are entrusted to the user (normally the Company's Safety Manager), the quarterly, six-monthly and annual control operations must be entrusted to expert and qualified technicians: we at Idini Estintori are specialized in checking and maintenance of fixed fire-fighting pumping stations.

Our operators will offer a 360° assistance and maintenance program, as per current legislation:

• Periodic quarterly check

  Using specific tools, appropriate manuals, design drawings, wiring diagrams and operating logic provided by the user, our technicians will carry out the following operations:

  • Review the level of danger, if structural changes have been made;
  • Checking of the pipes, their supports and water supply for each control station in the system;
  • Checking of the secondary power supply deriving from diesel generators (if any);
  • Checking of the shut-off valves that regulate the flow of water;
  • Checking of flow switches, which detect the presence or absence of flow in the pipeline, will be checked to ensure proper operation

• Periodic six-monthly check

  Using specific tools, appropriate manuals, design drawings, wiring diagrams and operating logic provided by the user, our technicians will carry out the following operations:

  • Checking of dry alarm valves
  • Check the alarm reporting link
  • Checking of levels and pressures
  • Test pump start-up alarms or hydraulic bells
  • Automatic pump start test
  • Diesel engine restart test
  • Checking of the electrolyte level and density
  • Cleaning of the pump room

• Periodic annual check

  Using specific tools, suitable manuals, design drawings, wiring diagrams and operating logics provided by the user, our technicians will check the automatic start-up of the pumps and the measured pressure and flow values. They will then do the following:

  • Flow test of the automatic pump
  • No start test of the diesel engine
  • Test of the float valve in the storage tanks
  • Check the suction chambers and filters for the pump

• Periodic three-year check

  Using specific tools, appropriate manuals, design drawings, wiring diagrams and operating logic provided by the user, our technicians will examine all the shut-off and non-return valves, replacing them if necessary. They will then do the following:

  • Storage tanks check
  • Check and test of the alarm and non-return valves

Supply and maintenance of fire doors and emergency exits

The REI or EI doors (fire doors) are highly resistant to fire, capable of isolating flames in the event of a fire. They are used as part of a passive fire protection system and are intended to reduce the spread of flames and smoke between rooms, while configuring themselves as safe exit routes from the building.

To be considered "fireproof" a door must:

• close autonomously using devices such as spring hinges, door closers or counterweights;
• be resistant to fire or, in the event of a fire, retain the sealing and / or thermal insulation properties for a certain time interval (even hours).

In our shop we offer a wide range of REI fire doors

• Metal fire doors (aluminum)
• Aluminum internal swing doors
• Aluminum internal sliding doors

Whether installed at the emergency exits or inside the building, to maintain their efficiency, fire doors must be periodically checked by competent and certified personnel, as required by current legislation (UNI 11473-1-2013), at least twice a year.

In addition to the supply, we take care of periodic checks and maintenance interventions on emergency exits and fire doors, verifying compliance both as a whole and as individual components.

The reference technical standard (UNI 11473-1) defines phases and criteria that characterize the checks and maintenance activity:

PHASE 1 - SURVEILLANCE

This consists of a visual inspection activity whose purpose is to verify that the doors are in normal operating conditions, i.e. easily accessible and free from material damage. Surveillance can be carried out by staff normally present in the area of ​​interest after having received adequate information. The surveillance operations will check, for example:

• the correct functioning of the door opening system;
• the absence of damage and the integrity of the gaskets;
• the correct closing of the door;
• that the door rotates freely and that the self-closing device, if present, operates efficiently.

PHASE 2 - CHECK

The six-monthly periodic inspection of fire doors and emergency exits must be carried out by qualified personnel, in order to ascertain the complete and correct functionality of the door in the normal conditions of the environment in which it is installed.

Specifically, the control operations will verify:

• the presence of the conformity mark affixed by the manufacturer;
• the presence of the installation, use and maintenance manual provided by the manufacturer;
• the presence of improper restraints;
• the presence of damage to the seals, any changes and the state of integrity of the same;
• the state of the fixings: continuity and solidity of the anchoring to the wall support, verification of the horizontal and vertical laying planes of the moving parts, presence of "games" between door and frame or between the leaves
• constructive integrity: any presence of punctures, dents, distortions, corrosions, cracks or other types of tampering that alter the initial construction in some way;
• the condition of the hinges: integrity, correct lubrication, fastening and operation, value of the friction torque, verticality of the axis;
• the opening devices: latch lubrication, lock and fastening, value of the re-engagement force of the latch of the lock, force and release torque of the panic or emergency device (handles, handles, push plates);
• ease of maneuver;
• the integrity and smoothness of trolleys, pins, pulleys, cables, chains, counterweights;
• correct lubrication: re-hooking and closing speed;
• the self-closing devices: lubrication of the overhead door closer, the condition of the door closer arm, presence of any oil leaks on the door closer body, alignment of leaves and frame with floor door closer, correct operation of the door closer pin bushing, correct operation of the valve closing speed adjustment;
• the proper functioning of the closure coordinator;
• the operation of the retaining devices (electromagnets or thermosensitive elements): correct fixing and lubrication, condition of the power supply cable, the power supply voltage, the absorbed power, presence of manual release;
• of the electromagnet, presence of oxidation on the anchor and / or the magnet.

PHASE 3 - ORDINARY MAINTENANCE

Ordinary maintenance operations are carried out on site by a qualified person and consist of a series of interventions aimed at eliminating the anomalies found, through minor repairs or replacement of entire components where expressly provided for.

Subsequently, our technicians will verify the full functionality of the door, both in opening and closing, testing specific accessories such as hinges, opening devices, coordination of the closing sequence, self-closing and retaining devices.

Once maintenance has been completed, one of our technicians will fill in the intervention report and affix a special tag, which every door in operation must be equipped with.

PHASE 4 - EXTRA MAINTENANCE

Extra maintenance operations, also carried out by a qualified person, are all those maintenance interventions that cannot be performed on site or which, although they can be performed on site, require special equipment and tools and / or involve replacing entire parts of the complete overhaul and replacement of appliances for which it is not possible or advisable to repair.

At the end of the maintenance, our technician will compile an intervention report and, if necessary, will issue a new declaration of correct installation.

We at Idini Estintori offer a unique experience in the sector. We are specialists in fire prevention and safety for all types of environments, attentive to the technical characteristics of the devices and services we offer to our customers.

Our highly qualified and constantly updated operators work with dedication, seriousness and reliability. We offer 360° assistance, providing customers with all levels of information, down to the smallest detail.

Do you need fire-fighting supplies for your company or do you want to plan control and maintenance operations with an expert? Contact us, we will help you find solutions that best suit your needs.