Fire protection systems and methods using fire protection devices installed in pipe fittings with an internally housed seal member

A method of providing a fire protection system comprising:

• placing an annular seal member in an unloaded condition within an internal gasket chamber of a unitary tubular member formed along an internal surface extending along and circumscribed about a central axis, the gasket chamber being located between an internally straight threaded surface and an internal stepless surface of the internal surface, the internally straight threaded surface being between the internal gasket chamber and a terminal outlet end of the unitary tubular member, the internal stepless surface extending from the internal gasket chamber to a terminal inlet end of the unitary tubular member in a welded connection to a pipe header of a network of pipes;
• and
• placing the annular seal member in a loaded condition within the internal gasket chamber with a fire protection device having a tapered thread in threaded engagement with the internally straight threaded surface and fluid communication with the pipe header;
• wherein placing the annular seal member in the unloaded condition includes inserting and locating the annular seal member within the internal gasket chamber with a nozzle body and a plunger coaxially aligned with the terminal inlet and outlet ends of the tubular member by locating the annular seal member within a guidance channel of the nozzle body inserted in the terminal outlet end of the tubular member and displacing the plunger in a sliding engagement with the nozzle body over an operational length defined by an axial distance between a handle of the plunger and the tubular body that ranges from three to 2½ times a length from the terminal inlet end to the terminal outlet end of the tubular member so as to eject the annular seal member from the guidance channel and into the internal gasket chamber.