Systems with Viking InstaSeal® welded outlets may (or may not) need sprinklers with unique part numbers
Usually, fire sprinklers can’t form a fluid-tight seal when they are wrenched into a threaded fitting without a little help. Installers must first apply PTFE tape or pipe dope to fill the thread gaps and completely lock in water when the sprinkler is installed. However, Viking InstaSeal ® welded fittings eliminate the need for using pipe thread sealants, as well as sprinkler wrenches—they hand-tighten to form a watertight seal during installation.
These fittings make installations easier, cleaner, and faster, but they require ordering the right fire sprinklers for the job. Here’s how to find InstaSeal-compatible sprinklers, along with an explanation of how these systems work:
- How InstaSeal welded outlets work
- How to install sprinklers in these fittings
- Many InstaSeal-compatible sprinklers have unique part numbers but the same SIN
- XT1 sprinklers are InstaSeal-compatible but do not have a unique part number
- Buy the right sprinklers and accessories
Gasketed outlets simplify installing and replacing sprinklers
The benefits of these welded outlets and their operation are straightforward. Instead of installing regular threaded weldolets on the branch lines of a sprinkler system, fitters can put in Viking’s proprietary InstaSeal welded outlets, including different models working with 1/2″, 3/4″, or 1” NPT fire sprinklers. Each fitting has a preinstalled EPDM rubber gasket that allows installers to achieve a watertight seal by simply hand-tightening sprinklers into place.
How to install sprinklers in Viking InstaSeal fittings
The steps are simple:
- Remove the orange plastic “integrity cap” from the welded outlet with and ensure you see the white ring of the rubber gasket inside. (In the rare situation that the gasket shows black or is missing altogether on a new fitting, it must be reinstalled.)
- Insert the sprinkler’s threads into the outlet, grip its protective cap, and hand-tighten the sprinkler until you feel it make contact with the gasket.
- Tighten the sprinkler at least 180 degrees.
- You can tighten the sprinkler “up to an additional 180” degrees to align its frame arms with the branch line. If needed, Viking offers an alignment tool that makes these final adjustments easier.
- Remove the sprinkler’s protective cap, and the head is ready.
This quick video shows how to do it:
Many InstaSeal-compatible sprinklers have unique part numbers but the same SIN
Usually, a sprinkler’s SIN (sprinkler identification number) is almost all you need to order the right head. Once you know the SIN, you can simply select the required temperature and finish, and you’re good to go. However, some sprinklers can have the same SIN but different non-performance characteristics, requiring unique part numbers. And many sprinklers that are compatible with Viking InstaSeal fittings are among them.
What’s different? Well, it has nothing to do with the InstaSeal-compatible sprinkler’s performance characteristics, materials, or dimensions. Instead, it’s all about the protective cap these sprinklers ship with.
Every fire sprinkler (from every manufacturer) ships with a protective plastic orange cap that safeguards the deflector and fragile heat-sensitive element during shipping and installation. When you install sprinklers into InstaSeal fittings by hand, the cap is where you grip the head. Unfortunately, most of Viking’s regular caps are flexible and don’t provide a firm grip. So, InstaSeal-compatible sprinklers come with rigid protective caps that you can grab onto.
Viking calls these plastic coverings “torque-assist caps” and identifies them by adding a “TQ” at the end of a part number. So, for example, let’s say that you need to buy a VK500 pendent sprinkler:
- If the sprinkler doesn’t need to work with InstaSeal fittings, you can order part number 27393AC, which has a standard protective cap.
- If the sprinkler must work with InstaSeal, be sure to choose part number 27393AC-TQ. It will have the torque-assist cap. You can also look for “InstaSeal” on a sprinkler’s product page.
The latter sprinkler will be identical to the first one—same SIN and performance characteristics—but come with caps that you can grip and turn!
Viking XT1 sprinklers are InstaSeal-compatible but *do not* have a unique part number
Remember, except for the rigid protective cap, nothing is different about an InstaSeal-compatible sprinkler and a non-compatible version with the same SIN. So, part numbers ending in “TQ” just indicate the sprinkler has a hard, graspable cap. However, Viking’s XT-1 sprinklers already ship with caps that are more rigid than those on most of Viking’s other sprinklers—so they don’t need unique part numbers with a “TQ” at the end.
Check out this list of all InstaSeal-compatible sprinklers, including their SINs and base part numbers.
As of this writing, there are 24 compatible sprinklers, each with a unique sprinkler identification number (SIN). However, Viking is expected to expand the number of models that work with these welded outlets. Given that the only significant difference is the cap, a substantial portion of Viking’s product line may be suitable for these hand-tightening outlets at some point in the future.
Buy the right sprinklers and accessories
If a fire sprinkler system features Viking InstaSeal welded outlets, be sure to opt for sprinklers and accessories that play well with them. Always check Viking’s updated compatibility list for the latest information.
As of this writing, if you have one of the following XT1 sprinklers, no need to worry about finding a specific part number that indicates a torque-assist cap. Just pick the proper SIN, activation temperature, and finish, and you’re good to go:
Otherwise, you must choose the correct part number ending in “TQ” for the other SINs on Viking’s InstaSeal compatible list. You should also check for the word “InstaSeal” in the sprinkler’s product description.
QRFS carries all of the InstaSeal-compatible XT1 sprinkler SINs listed above, as well as some versions of sprinklers that feature torque-assisted caps, such as the VK500 and VK503. We also offer the InstaSeal alignment tool.
If you don’t see a model that meets your needs or have any questions, please contact us at 888-361-6662 or support@qrfs.com.
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