Fire Sprinkler System Checklists

Spare Parts

• Anyone with a fire sprinkler system needs to have a supply of spare parts available to fix any damaged or outdated equipment. Spare parts needed include all types of sprinkler heads present in your building, a sprinkler head wrench and spare water shut-off valves. A sprinkler system manual from the manufacturer ensures that you or someone else knows how to change out these necessary items.

Heads

• It is necessary to inspect the sprinkler heads to prove they are in proper condition. You can compare the sprinkler heads to a new one to determine if there are any differences. Any heads that have been painted should be replaced as the paint insulates the mechanism that triggers the release of water, which could cause it to malfunction during a fire. Sprinkler heads also need to be compared to the manufacturer's list of recalled products to verify they have not been deemed unfit for use.

Piping

• Visually inspect all fire sprinkler system piping to check there are no leaks or corrosion. The piping needs to be accessed and inspected easily. Test all valves within the system by opening and closing them, which also helps to prevent them from freezing up in the future. Inspect the connection from the system to the water source for leaks or signs of weakness. Piping is to be labeled with clearly visible markings stating they are a fire suppression system.

Testing

• Fire sprinkler systems come equipped with a testing apparatus, which allows the owners to test the system by opening a valve that lets the water flow as it would during a fire. This authenticates that the valves are allowing water into the system at an appropriate rate and it flushes the system of debris. It is critical that this test valve is routed to an appropriate-sized drain or outside to a well-drained area. When testing your fire sprinkler system, you must notify the alarm company to determine if it triggers their system.