How to Maintain your Fire Sprinkler System
Having an optimally working automatic sprinkler system installed in your property is essential for saving lives and keeping fire damage to a minimum. Like most systems and appliances, it will need regular maintenance in order to keep functioning at its very best. Like vehicles need MOTs, fire sprinkler systems and sprinkler heads need to be checked over to ensure there is no damage that can prevent them from working. Although sprinkler systems should be checked annually by a reliable third party, there are certain ways in which the responsible party can carry out checks in order to keep your property and inhabitants safe.
Fire sprinkler inspections are essential in the overall safety of your domestic, commercial or residential property. Fire protection systems such as sprinklers can extinguish a fire quickly by targeting it at the source, reducing fire and water damage as well as keeping everyone as safe as possible. They’re incredibly reliable, but they need regular maintenance to function accordingly. Inspections should be carried out thoroughly and in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). So how do you maintain your sprinklers?
Check and Keep Control Valves Open
It is essential that you keep the control valves on your sprinklers open at all times. They control the flow and water supply from your automatic sprinkler systems, and they need to remain open in order for the water to escape from the sprinkler heads and extinguish fires. When your sprinklers are installed, you will have been supplied with a user manual to instruct you on how to achieve this. It is essential that a dynamic pressure and flow test is carried out every year by your 3rd party accredited maintenance company to make sure everything is working as it should.
If your building has automatic control valves, they can be checked during a full, annual fire sprinkler inspection. If the control valves are closed and a fire breaks out in your property, it can cause substantial damage and even a threat to life, as they won’t activate. Automatic sprinkler systems work to detect heat and extinguish the fire imminently, with discreet sprinkler heads that pop out at the first sign of fire. With optimally working and open control valves, your sprinkler system can work effectively and keep everyone safe.
Don’t Block or Interfere with Fire Sprinklers
If you ever make the choice to decorate when you have a sprinkler system installed, it is vitally important that you avoid painting over the sprinkler heads on your ceiling. This can impact how the sprinkler discharges water, leading to a weak, suppressed water flow. In addition, it can interfere with the system’s heat detection, preventing the sprinklers from activating at all. It’s also worth checking the cover plates of your sprinkler heads for dust or debris that can build up, keeping them as clean as possible to ensure they work effectively.
Upon visual inspection, your automatic sprinkler heads may seem fine. It’s always worth taking time out of your day to have a closer look and identify any blockages or interferences that can affect their reliability. You should avoid blocking the sprinklers with decorative pieces of furniture, to allow for an optimal flow of water. Fire safety in any home or commercial property is paramount, so installing a fire sprinkler system is the best choice for saving your property. To find out more about the sprinkler systems we can provide, please visit us here.
Schedule Professional Maintenance Checks
Although performing routine checks yourself is recommended throughout the year, an annual inspection provided by a reliable source is advised by the Fire Protection Association (FPA). You should call a certified professional for any inspection, installation or repair of your fire sprinkler systems. Those who inspect sprinkler systems need to be qualified and experienced, and cannot be the system’s owner, installer or building’s occupier.
When you make the decision to install a fire sprinkler system into your property, you can save not only your building, but the people within it too. Ensuring that your system is working up to standard can help keep it active for longer, providing you with excellent value for money and extra protection for you and your property. To find out more about our sprinkler systems, or to receive a quote, you can give us a call on 01892 680 090. Alternatively, you can fill out our online form.
