Easy Appliance Repair

Fire accidents can be devastating, especially when a facility is not well prepared. Most premise managers have the misconception that the mere presence of fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems in a facility is enough to tackle fire incidences. However, nothing could be further from the truth because fire equipment must be in optimal condition. As such, facility managers must always prepare an annual fire safety statement for compliance and safety reasons. Nonetheless, newbies find it challenging to inspect fire sprinkler systems for various reasons. This post explores fire sprinkler inspection schedules.

Weekly Inspections

Given the urgency associated with a fire incidence, you want to make sure that a sprinkler system is in optimal condition at all times. Therefore, weekly inspections are mandatory, and they should focus on water pressure in the system's control valves. Fire sprinkler systems rely on relatively high water pressure to cover a wide area and prevent flames from spreading. Therefore, inspect the water pressure gauge weekly and make the necessary adjustments if the readings are off. When examining the control valves and the piping system, confirm if they are tightly sealed and open, respectively. If you see water dripping from valves, replace the seal immediately since faulty gaskets reduce water pressure.

Monthly Inspections

It is unfortunate that some commercial facilities only test their sprinkler systems during a fire incidence. Therefore, a system goes untested for months or even years if no fire incidence is reported. However, never assume that a sprinkler system will spray water under high pressure when the time comes. It is the reason for testing a fire sprinkler system every month. Opening the valves and allowing water to gush out of sprinkler heads will let you know if the water pressure is low, high, or clogging. Any challenges should be prioritised to ensure the effectiveness of a fire sprinkler system.

Quarterly Inspection

Weekly and monthly inspections can be conducted by a designated safety officer in a business facility. However, the same cannot happen for quarterly reviews because of the thoroughness and level of detail involved. Notably, only a licensed fire protection inspector should perform quarterly inspections since they have a deep understanding of fire sprinkler operation and performance. During a quarterly fire sprinkler inspection, an inspector focuses on sprinkler heads and checks for clogs and loose joints. They also test a fire alarm and sprinkler system response times for signs of delays, which need immediate correcting.

Talk to a fire equipment professional for more information.