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Fire sprinklers operate during a fire’s early stages to suppress and control flames, making them critical in the fight against commercial and residential fires.
It is the sprinkler system gauge – air or water pressure gauges installed at various points throughout the system – which provides building owners and fire safety professionals an easy way to prove the system has an adequate supply of water. It is very important to replace fire sprinkler gauges every five years, and below we’ll tell you why!
What is a Fire Sprinkler Gauge?
Gauges are a critical component of fire sprinklers, as their readings indicate whether the system has adequate pressure to do its job. Wet systems use a water pressure gauge, whereas dry systems use gauges that monitor the gas pressure. The standard water pressure for a fire sprinkler should read between 150 psi to 175 psi.
What is considered “normal water supply pressure” can vary, but should essentially be established by system design requirements, past inspections, and any special conditions. This is most often determined by a certified life safety professional.
Why are they so important for your building?
Since many of a fire sprinkler system tests and inspections rely on the accuracy of the system’s pressure gauge(s), they should be periodically tested or replaced.
For example, when there is construction in your area and your building’s fire suppression water line valve is shut off temporarily, sprinkler gauges are the only way certified technicians can tell if the water is turned back on. Without water supply, your sprinklers won’t spray, opening you up to thousands of dollars in potential liability.
The NFPA 25 recommends quarterly inspections of water supply flow (every 3 months), although some people prefer to take the risk of having their fire sprinkler system inspected annually, which is the minimum recommendation from the NFPA.
How often should you replace your fire sprinkler gauges?
According to NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, you should replace fire sprinkler gauges every 5 years or get them tested every 5 years by comparison with a calibrated gauge.
Gauges not accurate to within ±3% of the maximum (full scale) gauge reading should be recalibrated or replaced.
Inspectors must ensure gauges are not damaged, readable, listed for use in its present application (via a manufacturer’s code shown on the gauge), and that it has been tested sometime within the past five years.
Check out this list of issues commonly found by fire protection system inspectors, that will help save you time and money the next time you have your fire safety systems inspected.
Should you recalibrate or replace sprinkler gauges?
To recalibrate the gauges, it is required that they are taken off the system (installing a temporary replacement), sent to a third party for recalibration, and then reinstalled. Most companies and end users opt for just replacing the gauges as the cost for doing so is minimal.A properly inspected and tested fire suppression system is the single most effective way to protect lives and property within your building.
Take advantage of our Complimentary Site Analysis or connect with us by giving us a call at (480) 829-7600 today. A Senior Technician will perform a site walk-through and make a list of all fire protection assets showing due dates and quantities.
When you own or manage a property protected by fire sprinklers, you hope you never need them. However, if your commercial fire sprinkler system has not received proper maintenance and care, during the years it has been installed and waiting for action, there is a good chance it may not function properly or at all.
When you own or manage a property protected by a commercial fire sprinkler system, you hope you never need them. But if the day comes that you do need them, you expect them to work properly.
This is why the 5-Year Internal Piping Condition and Obstruction Inspection is so important.
What is a 5-Year Internal Piping Condition and Obstruction Inspection of Your commercial fire sprinkler system?
The 5-Year fire sprinkler inspection is an NFPA mandated inspection examining the insides of your fire sprinklers’ piping. The examination must be carried out a minimum of every 5 years.
- Its Purpose: the purpose of the inspection is to ensure there are no blockages in the piping that would hinder the effective and free flow of water through the piping when needed in the event of a fire.
- What it Identifies: the inspection will search for and be able to identify a variety of internal obstructions or problems developing within the piping, including:
- MIC (microbiologically influenced corrosion)
- Rust
- Slime
- Other foreign organic or inorganic materials
- What it Entails: the inspection will first include an initial assessment. The initial assessment will include opening the flushing connection at one of the main ends and removing a sprinkler tower from one end of a branch line.
If sufficient foreign organic or inorganic material is discovered to be obstructing the pipe or sprinklers, then there will be a more comprehensive obstruction investigation.The obstruction investigation will take place at a minimum of four points in the fire sprinkler system:- System valve
- Riser
- Cross main
- Branch line
Why is it Important?
Even over a relatively short period of time and even in new fire sprinkler pipes installed in a newer structure, sludge and build up can occur surprisingly quickly.
When these obstructions develop, they diminish or even prevent the flow of the life- and property-saving water through your fire sprinklers in the event of a fire. Keeping your fire sprinkler piping up to code by adhering to the 5-year internal inspection will mean ensuring that both your property, your employees and your customers are safe.
Need Help?
Not sure whether your fire sprinkler system is due for its 5-Year Internal Inspection or who you should arrange to perform it? To have a CertiPro Fire & Life Safety professional conduct a test on your current sprinkler system or request a free estimate on the ideal system for your property, connect with us at this link or give us a call today at (480) 829-7600.
Fire sprinklers are the first line of defense for your Arizona property. Your safety and peace of mind is our priority, so only our expert technicians handle the installation and annual inspection of your fire sprinkler system.
