Fire Protection Contractors follow the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance protocols put in place by the National Fire Protection Association. Known as the NFPA 25, these protocols are the baseline for inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems. Compliance helps maximize system integrity to avoid failure and ensure fast, effective response in a fire emergency.
Inspection - A fire sprinkler system inspection is defined as a visual examination of a system or portion of a system to verify that it appears to be in operating condition and is free of physical damage.
- Weekly or monthly: Inspect the gauges.
- Quarterly: Inspect control valves, hydraulic nameplates, supervisory signal devices, valve supervisory alarm devices and water flow alarm devices.
- Annually: Inspect the hanger/seismic bracing, information signage, pipes and fittings and spare sprinklers.
- Every 5 years: Inspect sprinkler piping. Both Internal and external.
Testing - Fire sprinkler system testing is a procedure used to determine the operational status of a component or system by conducting periodic physical checks such as waterflow tests, fire pump tests, alarm tests and trip tests of dry pipe, deluge, or pre-action valve.
Quarterly: Test fire sprinkler mechanical devices.
Semiannually: Test pressure switch devices.
Annually: Test and tag the entire fire sprinkler system. This includes checks on all parts of your fire sprinkler system by utilizing alarm tests, fire pump tests, trip tests of dry pipe, deluge, and pre-action valves and water flow tests.
