Fire Sprinkler Inspection Basics

The National Fire Protection Association states that there were 100,500 non-residential structure fires in 2013, amounting to $2.6 billions in property damage. Installing fire sprinklers are important for you and your business to avoid these damages. Such systems work fast, even faster than the fire department. Investing in a sprinkler system can save lives, and reduce property damage.

Regular Inspection

Like all systems, sprinklers need to be inspected, and maintained regularly. Inspections can turn up any problems that could potentially lead to even greater damage, if they aren’t resolved as soon as possible. With monthly inspections, you can monitor how well your sprinklers are doing, and determine right away if there’s a need for repairs of any kind.

Inspection Checklist

Your monthly inspections:

• Make sure the valves are working properly. They should be in their normal position, and must be properly sealed or locked. Look for signs of leaks, or any physical damage.
• If you have a wet system, make sure the gauges show a normal water supply pressure. If you have a dry system, check the quick-opening device gauge. It should show the same pressure as the gauge on the dry pipe valve system.
• Be on the lookout for low air, or nitrogen pressure alarms. You should have these checked monthly in case they register the wrong readings. If not, you might not figure there are problems in your sprinkler system until it’s too late.

Quarterly inspections:

• Take a look at the pressure-reducing valves, as well as relief vales. These should be in an open position. Take note of any unstable downstream pressures, that are out of sync with the design criteria, as these could indicate leaks in your system.
• Make sure the fire-department connections remain free of any damage.
• Check for any signs of physical damage to the system.
• Any broken parts should be fixed or replaced right away.

Yearly inspections:

• Assess the system for changes in your water supply piping, such as physical wear-and-tear, deterioration or leaks.
• Carry out a main drain water flow test.
• Have extra sprinkler heads handy so you can switch the old ones out with new ones.

These are just a few of the things you need to have on your list. For a thorough guide, call in pros. Get in touch with fire sprinkler inspection experts to help you take better care of your property. At Getz Fire Equipment Company, we provide inspection services to help keep your sprinkler system in excellent, working condition. Contact us for more details.