Frequently Asked Questions

Automatic fire sprinklers are activated by heat and tied into a network of pipes with water under pressure. When the heat of a fire raises the sprinkler temperature to its operating point (usually 165 °F, 74 °C) a solder link will melt or a liquid-filled glass bulb will shatter to open that single sprinkler, releasing water directly over the source of the fire. Because they operate automatically, fire sprinklers prevent a fire fromgrowing, while sounding an alarm. It is the ability of the sprinkler systems to control or extinguish fires in their early stages that makes them such a critical tool in fire protection strategy. Accidental discharge of sprinklers is a rarity. The amount of water needed to douse an unsprinklered building fire is usually tens to hundreds of times morethan that which sprinklers would have discharged. Fire damage is also many times greater.

Simply put, fire sprinklers save lives. They work immediately and keep a fire small, thereby reducing the danger of intense heat and smoke on a building. By restricting the area exposed to fire, there is a reduction in the amount of property loss.

In addition to annual inspections, The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) requires routine fire sprinkler systems maintenance. Any time any component of your facility’s fire sprinkler system is altered, repaired, reconditioned, or replaced, it should be tested according to the requirements listed in NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.

Frequently Performed Maintenance

On top of these larger scale fire sprinkler systems maintenance requirements, there are smaller yet equally important tasks to perform weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually.

Freeze Detection

Once a year, your system's antifreeze solution should be tested before temperatures fall below 4°C. Sprinkler lines should be inspected annually for freezing.

Internal Pipe Investigation

Internal pipe investigation is to make sure the pipes supplying the water to your facility’s sprinkler heads contain no obstructions and no potential for obstructions. Per NFPA requirements, this investigation should take place every five years. The goal of this test is to check the pipes for foreign materials. If enough foreign matter is found to potentially clog the piping system or sprinkler nozzles, an obstruction investigation must be performed. The entire system should be flushed if obstructions are found during the investigation. Since you can’t see the inside of your buildings’ piping system, this is a critical test.

If your fire sprinkler system is leaking, it is very important to make sure that there is no active fire triggering your sprinkler system to drain. Once you are sure that your facility is not a fire hazard, call your fire protection company and share as many details about the leak as possible. These details will help give him an idea of what to expect during repairs.

Fire sprinkler systems are prone to corrosion, damage, equipment failure and freezing temperatures.

Corrosion

Corrosion causes rust spots, creating holes in piping and/or sprinkler heads. It can occur in both wet and dry pipe sprinkler systems. One cause of corrosion is due to sprinkler systems’ exposure to oxygen. Another is an aggressive, accelerated type of corrosion caused by bacteria.

Damage

Sprinkler systems can also become damaged accidentally by forklifts, ladders, equipment, etc.

Equipment failure

Equipment failure in sprinkler systems can occur by manufacturing or human installation errors. Routine wear and tear can cause sprinkler systems to leak if not maintained regularly. Another common failure that causes fire sprinkler systems to leak is o-ring seals. Also, over-tightened sprinkler heads or fittings can cause leaks.

Freezing temperatures

Pipes freezing is another common cause of leaking in wet pipe fire sprinkler systems, and it is less common in dry pipe and preaction sprinkler systems, as they do not hold a constant water supply.

As soon as you notice a leak in your fire sprinkler system, try to determine why it is leaking and whether it is necessary to evacuate the building. Water can cause electrical components to short-circuit or even ignite, causing a fire in your facility.

If a large amount of water is flowing through your system, it may be necessary to shut off the facility's water supply to prevent water damage. Even if you only see water dripping, the pressure gauges should be checked according to the manufacturer's recommendations to see if there are other leaks in the piping circuit.

After investigating the source of the leak and, if necessary, evacuating the building and shutting off the water supply, your maintenance company should be contacted. As much detail as possible about the leak should be shared.

If the leak in your fire sprinkler system is due to rusted or burst pipes, some or all of the piping system may need to be replaced. Some corrosion may be exogenous and easy to detect. Worn sprinkler heads will likely need to be replaced.

If your leak was due to external physical damage, the damaged component will be repaired/replaced. If the cause of the leak is corroded piping, part or all of the piping system should be replaced entirely.

If the leak is due to equipment failure, the component in question will most likely need to be replaced/reinstalled by a professional.

The easiest way to prevent future leaks in your fire sprinkler system is to work with a fire protection company. The fire protection company will work to ensure that your sprinkler system is regularly maintained in accordance with NFPA 25: Standard for Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Waterborne Fire Protection Systems. Maintenance to this standard will help prevent future leaks.