What is installed on the system side of a dry-pipe valve to quickly remove the air from a dry-pipe system when a sprinkler head activates?

• A. Vent
• B. Exhauster
• C. Dampener
• D. Pump

Answer: (B)

When a dry-pipe system activates, the piping ahead of the dry-pipe valve is filled with air, not water. To deliver water quickly to all sprinklers, that air must be removed as the system charges. An exhauster placed on the system side of the dry-pipe valve actively exhausts or pulls that air out of the piping as water begins to enter. This helps prevent air pockets and speeds up the fill, ensuring each sprinkler head receives water promptly and reliably.

Vent devices are more about passively releasing trapped air and aren’t specifically positioned to rapidly remove air as the system charges after activation. Dampeners and pumps serve different roles—dampeners help control pressure or flow characteristics, and pumps supply water rather than evacuate air.