PSI recently held a webinar focused on today's fire sprinkler systems, and the requirements for inspection, testing, and maintenance. Attendees left with a greater understanding of the types of sprinkler systems and how they operate, emergency service issues and when to call, and annual and 5-year Inspection requirements. If you weren't able to attend, you can still watch a recording of the Fire Sprinkler Systems 101 Webinar here.
Several great questions were asked during the presentation, and we wanted to provide the answers for everyone to reference. Please find the Fire Sprinkler Systems 101 questions and answers below.
At PSI, our factory-trained and NICET-certified technicians provide comprehensive fire and life safety services—monitoring, testing and inspecting, system maintenance, installations, and code compliance consultations—all under one agreement. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
I have a few wet sprinkler heads that have paint on them and need to be cleaned. What's the best way to remove the paint from the sprinkler head?
Sprinkler heads with paint on them will have to be replaced. Sprinkler heads are not allowed to be cleaned unless it can be done without physically touching them.
Does a diesel pump need weekly or monthly run tests?
All diesel pumps require a weekly 30-minute run. In California, a maintenance person that’s certified can handle those weekly and monthly tests on diesel pumps. In Oregon and Washington, the weekly tests can be completed by the property owner. PSI can provide the training for anyone who would like to manage the testing in-house or we can perform these inspections for you.
When replacing sprinkler heads, what system needs to be turned off during that time?
The sprinkler systems need to be shut off and drained before pulling and replacing a sprinkler head. In nearly all cases this will not affect your domestic water supply. In very rare cases both domestic and fire sprinkler water will need to be shut off. If you have a larger building, many times we can isolate just the portion of the system that requires repair. This eliminates the need to shut off your entire sprinkler system. It’s always good to let the professionals take care of sprinkler head replacement to avoid accidental water damage or other potential issues.
Would spray foam or fire caulking on the CPVC piping—or on the cylinder of the sprinkler head if you have an exterior patio sprinkler head—cause a deficiency?
Spray foam or fire caulking should not be used unless compatible with your piping. Before you put anything on or against CPVC piping, you will want to make sure the manufacturer's listing allows the type of sealant to be used. CPVC is very sensitive to many substances that can damage or degrade it. Check with the manufacturer for compatibility before applying any type of sealant to CPVC piping.
What are the requirements for Fire Watch in Oregon and Washington?
When portions of your system are impaired or shut down, a fire sprinkler or fire alarm systems fire watch may be required based on the length of time those systems will be down. For fire sprinkler systems, fire watch must be performed if the system will be down for more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period. For alarm systems, a fire watch must be performed if the system will be down for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period. Other requirements may apply so check with your AHJ.
What is the difference between a dry pipe system and a pre-action system?
A dry pipe system activates solely on the release of air pressure. If a sprinkler head is activated, the dry valve senses the air pressure drop and charges the system with water. Pre-action systems are very similar to dry valves in that the piping is maintained dry. In addition to air pressure loss, an additional action such as the operation of a smoke or other detection device is required to activate the valve and deliver water. On most pre-action systems you could break a sprinkler head right off and the system will not activate until a detector or another type of detection device activates to charge the system with water. In general, it takes multiple inputs to charge the system with water.
There are several different types of pre-action systems— non-interlock, single interlock, or double interlock. Each requires different inputs to charge the piping with water.
Does a sprinkler head need to have a plastic cover protector in a powder booth?
It's not required; however, it is a very good idea. If your sprinklers get paint on them, they must be replaced with new ones. Sprinkler head covers can be used to keep them clean and can be changed when fouled much cheaper than replacing the sprinkler. Head covers must meet detailed specifications to comply with NFPA 25 requirements.
Do you recommend insulating exterior dry sprinkler systems?
Exterior dry heads do not need to be insulated. If dry sprinklers are installed properly, they should not freeze. If you have a dry head that freezes, it's probably an issue with the area where the dry head connects to the water-filled piping. If a dry sprinkler gets cold enough to freeze where it attaches that space should be investigated to determine if the space can maintain adequate heat. Insulation of that space or additional heating may be required. In rare cases, the sprinkler system may need to be modified to prevent future freezing.
Does the testing completion need to be posted on-site? We typically receive emails of the completed inspection, especially the 5-year testing.
Our technicians will indicate that 5-year inspections have been completed with either a label or a tag on the system that identifies when the inspection was performed. You will also receive reports showing the results of those inspections. You will want to keep those reports on file with the rest of your fire protection documentation in case requested by your AHJ.
Is it required by law to replace recalled heads?
In some jurisdictions, it's absolutely required. Others, not so much. If you have recalled heads in your building, it's something that you certainly should get replaced. It is always best to get recalled sprinklers replaced to protect your facility and the people who occupy it.
On wet and dry systems when are pumps required?
Fire pumps are necessary anytime you don't have adequate water to supply to meet the demand of the fire sprinkler system. If you don't have an adequate water supply, the city doesn't supply enough water, or if you are drawing water from a tank or a reservoir you will need a fire pump to meet the demands of your fire sprinkler system.
Can you walk through the replacement process if a fire sprinkler has been activated?
By the time the technicians arrive, the system has typically been shut off by the fire department.
After sprinkler activation and suppression of the fire, the system is shut down and drained. The sprinkler head is pulled out and replaced with a new one. Any sprinkler heads that are near the activated sprinkler are also replaced since they may have incurred damage by exposure to heat and byproducts of combustion. Next, the system is recharged and checked for leakage before being returned to full service.
I have an HVAC repair that needs to be completed by welding a pipe. Would the smoke from that set the sprinklers off? What can I do to prevent the sprinklers from going off?
It all depends on how close the sprinklers are to welding operations. The lowest temperature sprinklers will activate at 135 degrees. If you're welding close to a sprinkler head, you're going to need to contact your fire protection service provider to shut the system down while you perform that service work.
If it's not close, often the sprinkler heads can be covered with a fire blanket or something to mitigate the heat from welding. It’s always a good idea to give your fire protection service provider a call if in doubt.
Can someone introduce anti-freeze into a system, a regular wet sprinkler system, to prevent freezing? Are anti-freeze systems and wet sprinkler systems different?
Code does not allow the addition of anti-freeze to an existing wet system. Antifreeze systems have specific design requirements and only special listed food-grade antifreeze is allowed to be used. To convert a portion of a wet system to an antifreeze loop or dry system you should consult with a design professional.
Would dry heads typically be in a garage?
Yes, a garage would typically use dry heads, unless that garage is constantly heated.
When is corrosion inhibition treatment of sprinkler water recommended?
Areas with a lot of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) are candidates for corrosion inhibitors. If your internal inspections indicate piping is starting to corrode, it's a good time to start looking at some type of treatment. Dry systems are a great example and a good candidate for preventive measures such as nitrogen supervision or other corrosion treatments to keep piping from corroding as quickly.
How do you protect outside sprinklers near the ocean?
If we're talking about corrosion protection of the sprinkler heads themselves on the exterior, you can buy corrosion-resistant sprinkler heads. Corrosion-resistant heads are produced using corrosion-resistant metals and special coatings to protect them from the elements.
What are the situations and types of systems where there are 3-year inspection intervals? What are the greater than annual testing requirements—such as 3, 5, and 10-year frequencies?
Dry sprinkler and pre-action systems are tested every 3 years for leakage. They're also full trip tested every 3 years. This means on a three-year basis that the entire system is flooded, and we check to make sure water reaches the most remote outlet, according to the specifications provided when the system was installed. Five-year inspections require many of the system’s components to be internally inspected along with other testing based on the type of system as specified in NFPA 25. Other inspections such as 10, 15, 20, and 50-year inspections generally reference fire sprinkler head testing but there are other components that require testing and inspection on extended intervals. Consult your fire protection contractor or NFPA 25 standard to see what inspections are required.
How quickly can PSI get appointments scheduled for inspections and cleaning the fire sprinkler heads?
The fastest way to get appointments scheduled is to sign up for recurring services. The PSI team can schedule months in advance to provide inspections promptly when due.
In the case of an emergency, PSI can respond within hours. We have trained technicians available 24/7 to respond and get your critical life safety equipment back online.
I understand when testing and inspections are performed, the results are reported to the fire marshal. But when a repair is performed (for example, a sprinkler pipe froze and burst, water turned off, etc.) does the technician then report that (repair completion/water turned back on) to the fire marshal too?
In most cases, repairs are not reported unless they were originally noted as a deficiency or if the customer is on fire watch ordered by the AHJ requiring notification when the system is returned to service. In this case, we will contact the AHJ to notify them the system has been restored.
Does PSI do regulatory inspections (e.g. 5-year sprinkler test, etc.)?
Yes, PSI can perform 5-year inspections along with other required inspection intervals, 3 year, 10 year, 15 year, etc.
Are there any regulatory notifications required for reporting issues with the sprinkler system in a facility?
In many cases yes. For instance, most AHJs require annual test reports to be submitted and notification if your system is impaired or deficient.
Is it necessary to perform monthly inspections of supervised valves?
No, control valves that are electronically supervised can be inspected quarterly instead of weekly/monthly. If you are unsure of inspection intervals contact your life safety provider or check the adopted standard for your location, generally NFPA25.
We hope you find the recording of the Fire Sprinkler Systems 101 Webinar and the Q&A above helpful. At PSI, our NICET-certified technicians provide services considered by our customers to be best in class. Contact us today for a free consultation on your fire and life safety systems.