How To Maintain Fire Sprinklers

12/31/2018 (Permalink)

There are several measures that an owner or facility manager of a commercial building can take to maintain fire sprinklers. Regular sprinkler maintenance can help to ensure that a fire suppression system is functional and prevent accidental activation.

Schedule Regular Maintenance

A maintenance service should inspect sprinklers at least once a year. This inspection should include checking the:

• Alarm system
• Pressure
• Test flow and tamper switches
• Valves
• Water volume

Sprinkler maintenance can keep a fire suppression system functional. If the occupancy or usage of a commercial property changes significantly, the fire suppression system may also need to be modified.

Update the System

It is important that the layout of the sprinkler system correspond to the purpose and needs of a structure. The system may need to be modified if any of the following factors change:

• Fire risks
• Occupancy
• Use patterns

Keep this in mind if a commercial building is being rented out to new tenants. It may be worthwhile to determine whether the fire sprinklers meet the needs of the new occupants.

Assess Accidental Activation

If sprinklers accidentally activate, it is important to find out why a malfunction has occurred. Sprinklers are tested to prevent accidental activation or leaks. In either event, a building owner or facility manager should contact a sprinkler company. It is important to:

• Accurately describe the circumstances
• Mitigate water damage
• Provide every part of the malfunctioning sprinkler

A sprinkler may activate due to defects, corrosion, or environmental factors such as excessive heat or freezing. Regular maintenance and safe conditions should be sufficient to prevent most instances of accidental activation.

These sprinkler maintenance measures ensure that a fire suppression system will be effective in the event of a fire. If a system activates to suppress a fire or accidental activation occurs, contact a sprinkler company as well as a damage mitigation and restoration firm in Bainbridge, OH.