My complex is conducting an inspection on fire sprinklers soon, and I was just curious about how they go about doing this. Do they actually set one off to make sure they work? Do they just walk through and make sure nothing is hanging from them or obstructing them? I live in the West Campus area in Austin, in case someone’s familiar with the local law. Thanks!
NFPA requirements are similar pretty much nationally.
Sprinkler systems require an annual test and inspection with a much more stringent inspection every five years. The inspection checks all the valves, alarms and monitoring systems as well as flow (in case of a fire pump) and other operational issues. Typically there are test fittings remote from the riser that are used to check the flow alarms.
Part of the inspection is a visual check of all parts-and-pieces (heads, pipes, valves and so forth) throughout the complex.
However, the very next day someone could hang all sorts of stuff from the system such inspections are only a snapshot of that day, that time.
June 16th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
NFPA requirements are similar pretty much nationally.
Sprinkler systems require an annual test and inspection with a much more stringent inspection every five years. The inspection checks all the valves, alarms and monitoring systems as well as flow (in case of a fire pump) and other operational issues. Typically there are test fittings remote from the riser that are used to check the flow alarms.
Part of the inspection is a visual check of all parts-and-pieces (heads, pipes, valves and so forth) throughout the complex.
However, the very next day someone could hang all sorts of stuff from the system such inspections are only a snapshot of that day, that time.
References :
June 16th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I don’t know about local codes but I’ve been in the facility management business for 40 years and never seen a sprinkler intentionally set off. They will check pressure, valve settings, maybe do a flow test although that would be rare, and check to see that the correct sprinkler head are installed.
References :
June 16th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
It is a visual inspection.
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