Dry Riser Installation Exeter – New System Completed in Alphington

Dry Riser One has successfully completed the dry riser installation, pressure testing and commissioning of a new dry riser system in Alphington, Exeter, as part of a residential apartment development at Haldon Reach in South West Exeter.

The installation serves Apartment Block A and includes one dry riser system, one breeching inlet connection and three landing valves, providing firefighters with dedicated access to a reliable water supply at the required levels of the building.

The project was completed on 3 September 2026, with the finished system commissioned in accordance with BS 9990:2015.

This was also an excellent example of how an organised construction site can make specialist fire protection works run smoothly. From the information provided before arrival through to site access, coordination and handover, the client’s site team were extremely well organised. Good preparation makes a significant difference on a dry riser installation, and on this project it allowed our engineers to concentrate on what they were there to do: install the system correctly, test it and complete the necessary commissioning documentation.

Dry Riser Installation in Alphington, Exeter

The project is located at Haldon Reach, off Trood Lane in Alphington, Exeter, Devon, where construction of the residential development is progressing. Apartment Block A is a three-level residential apartment building, with the project drawings identifying the ground, first and second-floor arrangements. The wider Block A drawings cover nine two-bedroom apartments within plots 189–197. For this building, Dry Riser One was appointed to supply, install, test and commission the dry riser system.

The project specification provided for an inlet connection feeding the riser and three outlet positions serving the building.

Coordinating the Dry Riser with the Building

One of the most important parts of any new-build dry riser installation is coordination. A dry riser may appear relatively straightforward once completed, but its route has to work with the building structure, stair core, walls, floor construction, other services and the positions selected for the inlet and landing valves. The architectural drawings for Apartment Block A were therefore reviewed alongside the installation requirements before and during the works.

At ground-floor level, the building drawings identify the position of the dry riser inlet valve, while the fire strategy drawings show the central riser, staircase and lobby arrangement continuing through the building.

Getting these positions right during construction is important because subsequent trades will continue finishing walls, floors and communal areas around the installation.

An Exceptionally Well-Organised Site Team

A particular positive from this Exeter project was the organisation of the client’s site team. Construction sites can be busy environments, with multiple trades competing for access to stair cores, service areas and working space. A dry riser installation becomes considerably easier when the relevant information has been issued in advance and the specialist contractor knows exactly where they need to be and who they need to coordinate with. That was very much the case here.

The induction arrangements were clear (Biosite - Induction), project drawings and documentation were available, communication was straightforward and the site team understood what we needed to complete the installation. It meant there was very little wasted time.

Our engineers could arrive, complete the necessary site procedures, coordinate the working area and get on with the installation.

That level of organisation deserves recognition because successful subcontract works are rarely down to one trade alone. When the main site team, management and specialist contractors communicate properly, the whole construction programme benefits. For us, this is exactly how a well-managed dry riser installation should work.

Three Dry Riser Landing Valves and Breeching Inlet

The completed system incorporates three landing valves, positioned to provide firefighting access through the building.

Landing valves are an essential part of the system because they provide the connection points from which the Fire and Rescue Service can draw water after charging the dry riser from the external inlet. Rather than firefighters having to run long lengths of hose from ground level, the riser allows water to be delivered vertically through the building and accessed much closer to the floor where it is required.

At external level, the system incorporates the breeching inlet connection used by the Fire and Rescue Service to charge the dry riser. The inlet needs to be readily identifiable and positioned so that attending fire crews can make the connection efficiently.

12 Bar Dry Riser Pressure Test – Passed

Installation is only one part of the job. Once the pipework and dry riser parts had been installed, the dry riser was subjected to its commissioning pressure test.

The system was successfully pressure tested to 12 bar, providing confirmation of the integrity of the installed pipework and connections before handover. The project documentation records the installation as completed and commissioned following a successful 12 bar pressure test.

Pressure testing is a vital stage because it provides an opportunity to identify any problem with pipework, fittings, valves or connections before the system is handed over.

Our method of work includes installation to the agreed drawings, followed by pressure testing, commissioning and formal handover documentation.

Installation and Commissioning to BS 9990:2015

Following completion of the pressure test, the dry riser was commissioned and certification issued.

The Certificate of Compliance confirms:

Project: Haldon Reach, Exeter
System: Dry riser
Number of systems/inlets: 1
Number of landing valves: 3
Installation date: 3 September 2026
Test standard: BS 9990:2015

The completed system was certified as installed and commissioned in accordance with BS 9990:2015. For Dry Riser One, completing the paperwork properly is just as important as completing the physical installation.

The system should not simply look finished. There should be a clear record showing what was installed, where it was installed and that the necessary commissioning procedures were completed.

Need a Dry Riser Installation in Exeter?

If you have an upcoming construction project in Exeter, Alphington, Devon, Plymouth, Torquay, Newton Abbot or anywhere across the South West, Dry Riser One can provide support with your dry riser requirements. Dry Riser One provides professional dry riser installation, testing, commissioning, servicing, maintenance and remedial works across England, Scotland and Wales.

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Send us your enquiry today and experience the reliability of our work for yourself.