Description of Project
In 2025, Elite Fire Protection was recommended by a Fire Consultant to provide a quotation to protect a diesel storage tank with a deluge system. We were awarded the contract and proudly completed the project in 2025.
With the new diesel storage tank purchased and installed by the client for their own trucks to fill up with fuel, a fire protection system was required. Elite Fire Protection was responsible for the supply, fabrication, and installation of the deluge fire sprinkler system, ensuring the new tank was comprehensively safeguarded.
| Project | Fire Protection Systems |
| Size | 1 (one) Diesel Storage Tank |
| Year of completion | 2025 |
| Scope | Supply, fabrication & installation |
| Discipline | Fire Protection |
Project Scope
Fire Protection System of Fuel Storage Tank:
- Deluge sprinkler protection
Why Deluge Protection for Fuel Storage Tanks?
Fuel can present a unique fire risk due to the oil they contain. Standard sprinkler systems are designed to activate only in the area where heat is detected, which can be sufficient for general building fires but not for Storage Fuel Tanks. Localised activation cannot provide the rapid, all-encompassing cooling needed to suppress a fuel fire.
Deluge systems, by contrast, are engineered to discharge water through all nozzles simultaneously, cooling the transformer from every angle. This blanket application not only suppresses flames but also prevents heat build-up, significantly reducing the chance of catastrophic damage or prolonged downtime. For critical assets like storage fuel tanks, this level of protection is essential.
Process Outline
Our Solution
Elite Fire Protection was responsible for the complete scope of works, including:
- Supply, fabrication, and installation of the deluge sprinkler systems.
- A hydraulically activated deluge valve fitted to the existing fire line fed from Town’s Main and controlled by a dedicated sprinkler pilot line for immediate system response.
- Piping from the deluge valve and above, are all galvanized piping.
Why Galvanized Piping in Deluge Systems?
Deluge Systems or Dry Sprinkler Systems are normally filled with pressurized air or nitrogen (not water). Water is only introduced during a fire event or testing. This means the zinc coating is not continuously exposed to standing water, so the risk of internal corrosion from water stagnation is reduced.
Even in dry/deluge systems, moisture can condense inside pipes. The galvanized coating provides some resistance to that light internal corrosion and helps extend pipe life compared to black steel.
They are often installed in outdoor or harsh environments (tank farms, transformer protection, conveyors etc.). Galvanizing provides external corrosion resistance against humidity, salt air, or chemical exposure.
In short, galvanized piping is used in deluge and dry systems because the pipes aren’t continuously filled with water, reducing the risk of accelerated internal corrosion, while still giving extra external protection in harsh environments.
Operational Considerations
- No special considerations were needed, other than turning off the hydrant line to ensure connection to the deluge valve.
