Maintaining Your Fire Sprinkler System

Now that Alpha Fire has installed fire sprinklers in your building, it’s up to you to maintain them. Fire sprinklers are far from “set it and forget it” building technology. That’s because degradation of the water supply or impairment to a sprinkler system can have severe consequences. Periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance of the sprinkler system are essential for proper sprinkler function. Failing to properly inspect, test and maintain sprinkler systems may result in citations and fines, or worse.

Don’t allow your life safety investment to become neglected. By doing periodic inspections and testing, you can rest assured you’re protected. Time has proven that preventive maintenance can prolong the life and reliability of your fire sprinkler system.

NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, is a reference commonly adopted for enforcement. NFPA 25 offers a schedule of preventive inspection, testing, and maintenance activities. With respect to water supply, Section 13.2.5 of NFPA 25 calls for a main drain test to be conducted annually at each sprinkler system riser to determine whether there has been a change in the condition of the water supply, supply piping and control valves. This is very important.

Although it is customary to consider the main drain test as an “annual” event, more frequent tests are required depending on the water supply configuration. The main drain test should be conducted quarterly where the sole source of the water supply is through a backflow preventer or pressure-reducing valves. Facility executives and or owners should verify these tests are being conducted on a timely basis in accordance with NFPA 25 or other applicable requirements. Written records should be kept for future reference and troubleshooting.

You’ve already trusted Alpha Fire to design, and install your fire sprinklers. Now let us maintain them through our testing and inspections program.

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