Ensuring the safety of your building’s occupants is a top priority, and one crucial aspect of this is the regular inspection of your fire sprinkler system. In particular, 5-year inspections play a vital role in maintaining the functionality and effectiveness of your system.
What is a 5-year inspection?
A 5-year inspection is a code required inspection to visually confirm the internal integrity of the system (NFPA 25, section 14.2). Think of it as a thorough physical exam for your fire sprinkler system. These inspections take a deeper look to identify and address any potential issues that may compromise its performance. They focus on clearing blockages, such as rust, sludge, corrosion, and other foreign materials, ensuring that water can flow freely when needed most.
What’s included in the inspection?
During a 5-year inspection, several key components of the fire sprinkler system are examined:
- All check valves are inspected internally to verify the valve’s components operate correctly and that there is no presence of foreign material.
- All system valves (alarm, dry, deluge, pre-action) are inspected internally to verify that all valve components operate correctly.
- All pressure gauges are replaced or calibrated to specifications.
- The Fire Department Connection (FDC) is hydrostatically tested at 150psi for 2 hours to ensure integrity.
- Internal inspection of system piping that includes the following four critical points:
- System valve
- Riser
- Cross main
- Branch line
For buildings with multiple wet systems, inspections alternate between systems to ensure comprehensive coverage.
How to prepare for an inspection.
Having accurate as-built drawings on hand is invaluable for locating hidden components like check valves, which may be concealed behind drywall. These drawings facilitate a smoother inspection process and enable devices to be located more quickly.
What to expect during the inspection.
5-year inspections are thorough and may require several days to complete. Most of the work is concentrated in areas like stairwells, valve rooms, and hallways. Building management and owners play a crucial role in providing access to these areas and ensuring system piping is easily accessible.
After the inspection
Following the inspection, a detailed report with photos is generated, documenting all findings, both normal and abnormal. Tags are placed on the system as a local record of completion. Reports are also generated for building records and, in some jurisdictions, may need to be uploaded for compliance purposes.
Schedule your inspection today.
At Summit Fire & Security, we understand the importance of regular inspections in maintaining the safety and functionality of your fire sprinkler system. In addition, we offer several other integrations such as security, monitoring, and access control creating a single point of contact for your building needs.
Contact our experts today to learn more about our inspection services and how we can help safeguard your property against fire risks.