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US 6,960,321 B1Granted
Sterilization of fire sprinkler systems
OwnerJerome H. Ludwiginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
New and in-use fire sprinkler systems can be sterilized by employing antimicrobial gases. The gases include steam, oxygen, and chlorine. Water added to the system after sterilization can be sterilized to prevent the reoccurrence of microbiological contamination.
Claims9
A method for steam sterilizing a fire sprinkler system comprising
- isolating a section of a water distribution pipe in a fire sprinkler system for the delivery of steam, wherein said water distribution pipe includes a plurality of heat-sensitive sprinkler heads and contains water,
- removing the water from said section of the system,
- utilizing a temperature sensor to detect the temperature at a position in said section of the system,
- inactivating the sprinkler heads during the delivery of the steam by removing said sprinkler heads and replacing them with temporary fittings,
- delivering said steam into said section for a duration at a temperature and in an amount sufficient to kill microorganisms and sterilize the section, and
- returning said sterilized section in the system to operation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.