Annual Testing

Annual Testing of Residential Firesprinkler Systems

Protect your family with a residential fire sprinkler system

There are certain things you should know if you live in a property with a fire sprinkler system.

When you bought your home, there may have been little mention of the residential Fire Sprinkler Systems that was installed. There was almost certainly no mention of annual testing of your residential fire sprinkler system systems. The fact that household fire sprinkler systems must be serviced annually was most likely not discussed. You may have noticed the small flat plates mounted in the ceiling, but because there were so many other things to think about, you assumed that this would be simply another issue to deal with when you had more time.

Aside from the obvious questions, which you may or may not have received answers to before purchasing the home, did you ask the following:

Why is a residential fire sprinkler system installed in my house?

The current response is that they are a mandatory condition in new residences if you live in Wales. However, because this is not a legal requirement in the rest of the UK, what is the answer if you do not live in Wales?

A domestic fire sprinkler system could be placed within on a property for a variety of reasons. Surprisingly, very few devices are installed to improve the safety of a family who lives in a property that already meets every feature of ADB (approved document B – fire safety)!

To put it another way, there is a high probability that the fire sprinkler system was placed in your house to compensate for a lack of the customary level of fire protection that residences are equipped with. This explains why periodic testing of household fire sprinkler systems is critical.

Is this to say that my family is more vulnerable in the event of a fire?

No. Your family has a far better chance of surviving a fire if you have a BS 9251-compliant fire sprinkler system installed in your home, providing it is correctly installed and maintained regularly.

Why Have Residential Fire Sprinkler Testing Carried Out?

• The safest house for you and your family to live in is a house which meets the requirements of ADB (approved document B – fire safety) of the building regulations and also has a home fire sprinkler system installed.
• However, a house which does not comply fully with ADB but does have a residential fire sprinkler system installed could be is considered safer than a property which conforms to ADB but doesn’t have a fire suppression system installed.
• The most important consideration is that the system will operate when required and this involves having the installation properly designed and fitted in the first place and properly maintained by a reputable residential fire sprinkler company.
• Domestic and residential fire sprinkler systems do need to be maintained on an annual basis, especially storage-based systems. Part of the yearly test must be a dynamic flow test which can only be provided by an accredited fire sprinkler company and not a fire alarm service company.

Got a residential fire sprinkler system? Get it serviced by a competent company! Call 01892 680090

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