Routine Maintenance and Inspection of Fire Sprinklers

12/6/2018 (Permalink)

Routine Maintenance and Inspection of Fire Sprinklers

A misfiring fire sprinkler can lead to the need for timely mitigation. While there are fire remediation specialists in the WNY , area that are equipped to handle a fire sprinkler cleanup, routine maintenance may be all that is required to avoid these mechanical mishaps. As regular maintenance and inspection are often needed, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the essential components of your system.

1. Control Valves

In a fire suppression system, control valves guide the water through the system to the affected area, allowing for quick suppression response. These valves should be checked weekly to ensure they are in the open position, are appropriately sealed and free of leaks.

2. Gauges

Fire sprinkler system gauges offer accurate readouts of the pressurized system, making it easy to understand if the system can extinguish an active fire. In pre-action, deluge and dry fire suppressant systems, these gauges should be checked weekly. In a water-based system, you should check the gauges monthly.

3. Sprinkler Heads

As the main component of your fire prevention system, the sprinkler heads allow for the free flow of the fire suppressant. Sprinklers should be checked monthly to ensure that they are free of leaks and debris.

4. Professional Inspection

While it is all right to perform routine inspections on your system on your own, it is advisable and possibly required to have at least annual checks performed by professionals. The same services that can clean up after sprinkler mishaps are typically equipped with the equipment and expertise to perform fire system inspections.

A fire sprinkler system is an incredible and life-saving preventative measure, but if that system is not maintained correctly, then it can become finicky. Controls and specific gauges will need to be checked weekly, while other gauges and sprinkler heads can be checked monthly. Beyond the basic DIY inspections, it is a wise and sometimes mandated choice to have a professional inspect the system for any potential damage.