Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler system and method of inerting a fire protection sprinkler system includes connecting an inerting system to the piping network of a fire protection sprinkler system having a piping network and at least one sprinkler head connected with the piping network. The inerting system includes an inert gas source that is adapted to supply inert gas to the piping network and an inerting gas vent assembly. The gas vent assembly has a gas vent adapted to discharge gas, a solenoid and a control. The solenoid is adapted to selectively open the gas vent and to close the gas vent. The gas vent discharges gas when the solenoid opens the gas vent and does not discharge gas when the solenoid closes the gas vent. The control is adapted to operate the solenoid in a manner that allows the gas vent to discharge gas for a limited amount of time.

Abstract: An inerting system for a fire protection sprinkler system and method of inerting a fire protection sprinkler system to reduce the concentration of oxygen includes connecting an inert gas supply system with the piping network of the fire protection sprinkler system. The gas supply system includes a plurality of tank adapters, an automatic fill valve, an automatic vent valve and at least one pressure transducer. Each of the tank adapters is adapted to connect with a tank of inert gas and to selectively connect the tank of inert gas with said automatic fill valve. A control controls the gas supply system including operating the automatic fill valve and the automatic vent valve in order to increase the proportion of inert gas in the piping network. The control monitors the at least one pressure transducer to determine the pressure of gas at least in the tank connected with the automatic fill valve.

Abstract: A wet pipe fire protection sprinkler system and method of operating a wet pipe fire sprinkler system includes providing a sprinkler system having a pipe network, a source of water for the pipe network, at least one sprinkler head connected with the pipe network and a drain valve for draining the pipe network. An inert gas source, such as a nitrogen gas source, is connected with the pipe network. Inert gas is supplied from the inert gas source to the pipe network. Water is supplied to the pipe network thereby substantially filling the pipe network with water and compressing the inert gas in the pipe network.