Viking slightly modified its next-generation XT1 sprinkler line to make heads easier to install
As the flagship of Viking’s commercial sprinkler catalog, XT1s are highly compact and designed to be corrosion-resistant and extra reliable. But not long after the company first released this new model in late 2018, there was a Viking XT1 update — new frames with new part numbers and compatible accessories.
Why?
Viking designers continually work to solve real-world problems for building owners and sprinkler fitters. This revised XT1 line is just such an effort, making the sprinklers easier to install while retaining their state-of-the-art features.
This article explains the Viking XT1 sprinkler update, including precisely what changed and how to find the exact sprinkler, sprinkler wrench, and head guard part numbers you need.
Check out the QRFS selection of Viking commercial fire sprinklers, including XT1 sprinklers. Don’t forget the sprinkler wrench! We have wrenches for both the new and old versions of your XT1 sprinklers.
The Viking XT1 update squares up the sprinkler boss to prevent the wrench from slipping
This revised XT1 is all about ease of installation for sprinkler fitters. After installer feedback, Viking realized that XT1 sprinkler wrenches sometimes slipped during installation. The company’s engineers determined they could eliminate this problem by squaring up the sprinkler wrench boss (the spot where the wrench connects to the sprinkler), which was formerly somewhat rounded and roughly octagonal.
The square shape is the only physical change to the XT1 fire sprinklers. The heat-sensitive bulbs remain the same, the deflectors are still the same shape and stainless-steel construction, and the cap still features a PTFE seal and spring mechanism.
Because the functional parts of the sprinkler have not changed, XT1 sprinklers still have the same sprinkler identification number, or SIN, after the update. This is helpful because you don’t have to work hard to find replacement sprinklers. For example, if you ever need to replace an older-model VK2001 sprinkler, you can use the old or new VK2001 depending on what you have on hand in your sprinkler cabinet. The two are functionally identical—simple as that.
However, this change does mean that the old XT1 sprinkler wrenches won’t work with the new XT1 sprinkler heads. To install the newer sprinklers, you’ll need to pick up the correct wrench with a specific part number, which we’ll discuss in the next section. Likewise, facilities managers who stock the new sprinklers in their sprinkler cabinets must also keep the corresponding sprinkler wrenches.
Additionally, sprinkler accessories like head guards that protect sprinklers from impact damage have also changed. If you have a newer XT1, you’ll need the more recent version of the XT1 head guard.
SINs don’t change in the Viking XT1 update, but part numbers do!
So, the SIN numbers on XT1 sprinklers haven’t changed. But as we explain in our blog posts about sprinkler SINs and finding replacement fire sprinkler heads, this identification number isn’t the whole story. To identify a sprinkler down to its color and temperature, you also need the manufacturer’s part number.
SIN numbers correspond to structurally unique sprinklers. So if a manufacturer changes the K-factor, the deflector type, or the actuating element (link vs. bulb), it must create a new SIN number. But while the finish or response temperature doesn’t require a new SIN, these characteristics do change the part number. And when Viking changed their XT1 sprinklers, they changed their part numbers.
Use the quick reference table below to find the new XT1 sprinkler that corresponds to the old version. First, find the SIN and manufacturer part number on your records or old sprinkler head. Then, look up the new part number:
| SIN | Old Part Number | New Part Number | Type | K-Factor | Shop the QRFS Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VK1001 | 19914 | 23867 | Upright | 5.6 | Brass 155F | Brass 200F | Brass 286F |
| VK1021 | 19915 | 23868 | Pendent | 5.6 | Brass 155F | Brass 200F | Brass 286F | Chrome 155F |
| VK2001 | 19922 | 23876 | Pendent | 8.0 | Brass 155F | Brass 200F | Brass 286F |
| VK2021 | 19923 | 23875 | Upright | 8.0 | Brass 155F | Brass 200F | Brass 286F Chrome 155F |
| VK3001 | 19916 | 23869 | Upright | 5.6 | Brass 155F | Brass 175F | Brass 200F | Brass 286F |
| VK3021 | 19917 | 23870 | Pendent | 5.6 | Brass 155F | Brass 200F | Brass 286F Chrome 155F |
| VK3501 | 19924 | 23877 | Upright | 8.0 | Brass 155F | Brass 200F | Brass 286F |
| VK3521 | 19925 | 23878 | Pendent | 8.0 | Brass 155F | Brass 200F | Brass 286F |
For example, if you have an old sprinkler that is ‘19923MA/B’, ‘MA/B’ is your suffix. ‘A’ indicates a temperature rating of 135 °F, and ‘M-/B’ means a black polyester finish. Thus, the new version would be ‘23876MA/B.’
Older XT1 sprinklers use the 22940MB straight-handle wrench or 20951M/B wrench for recessed heads.
Respectively, these have been replaced with the 23559MB straight-handle wrench and 23560MB2 recessed wrench.
Likewise, the 22931 head guard works for the previous XT1 sprinklers, while the new ones use part number 23930.
Choose the XT1 for corrosion resistance, compact size, and reliability
To resist corrosion, each XT1 sprinkler comes standard with a stainless-steel deflector and a PTFE seal for the spring and seal assembly. Plus, XT1 sprinklers can optionally be purchased with Viking’s corrosion-resistant electroless-nickel coating, which makes them ideal for dockside, poolside, and industrial use.
All fire sprinklers are built to work reliably, but Viking went even further with the XT1. Each head has a hinge-like anti-lodgment device that ensures the cap falls away cleanly when it activates.
Finally, Viking’s XT1 sprinklers are small and compact, making them easier to work on in tight spaces and aesthetically unobtrusive, especially when they’re recessed.
For your next sprinkler installation project or to replace heads in your facility, shop for updated XT1 sprinklers and other Viking products on the QRFS website.
For help purchasing Viking sprinkler heads, supplies, and accessories, call us at +1 (888) 361-6662 or email support@qrfs.com with questions.
Shop our selection of Viking XT1s and other sprinklers.
Don’t forget to pick up the correct Viking sprinkler wrench and the right head guard!
This blog was originally posted at blog.qrfs.com. If this article helped you, check us out at Facebook.com/QuickResponseFireSupply or on Twitter @QuickResponseFS.