Fire Sprinkler Systems: Function and Inspection Essentials

Sprinkler systems can save a building in the event of a fire – but one broken pipe in the system could destroy your building, too.

Water pouring from the ceiling can wipe out everything in its path – books, electronics, seats, walls, floors, and more.

A single broken sprinkler head in a typical ministry setting can release approximately 15 gallons of water per minute – about 900 gallons per hour. It gets worse. A broken pipe can release enough water every hour to fill a swimming pool, about 20,000 to 40,000 gallons.

That’s why it’s so important to take steps to make sure your system is free of wear and tear that can lead to catastrophic failure. It’s also important to protect pipes from freezing, a common cause of devastating water damage.

---

---

To maintain their effectiveness, it’s important to have a professional contractor perform an annual and five-year inspection. But there are several things your ministry can visually check in the meantime. The good news is that this doesn’t require a lot of time or skill. You can take simple steps to catch small issues before they become major problems.

Things to Inspect - Exterior

When performing a visual inspection of your fire suppression system, it’s important to start outside. Look at the pipes and valves for signs of leaks or rusting. “Sometimes rust on the outside can mean it’s rusting on the inside,” said David Barrueto, a senior risk control specialist with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. Internal rust can eventually lead to leaks or valves that don’t work correctly.

An important piece of your sprinkler system is the backflow preventer. If you see leaks around this component, it could indicate that a seal is broken and should be repaired right away.

Before going inside, make sure to walk along the ground where the water pipe is buried. If there is any sign of water, you could have a leak that would require immediate attention. Finally, most systems will have a bell located on the exterior of the building to alert firefighters that the sprinkler system has been activated. Make sure to check the bell for birds’ nests or other debris. If it’s full of material, firefighters won’t be able to hear the bell if it goes off.

Things to Inspect – Interior

Riser Room

The brains of a fire suppression system are in what’s commonly referred to as a riser room. It’s important to note that not every building will have a riser room. Your system’s main water supply pipes may be in a hallway, outside the building, or another room.

When visually inspecting the riser pipes and valves, it’s important to start at the bottom and work your way up. Pay particular attention for signs of leaks, which may indicate more serious problems.

Check riser gauges to make sure they are working properly (they should read approximately 75 PSI). Take a second to look at the flow switches. These are switches that will have electrical connections, and they are responsible for detecting water flow and sending a signal to the alarm. Sometimes the wires can get disconnected by accident, especially if there’s any work performed on the system.

Pump Room

The pump that provides water to the system may be located outside, in the riser room, or in a separate space within the building. A quick visual inspection is all that’s required to make sure it is free of bird nests or other obstructions. If your system has a water storage tank, make sure it’s not leaking and is full of water.

If you have a leak anywhere in the system, it will cause a smaller pump, known as a jockey pump, to run more frequently to maintain pressure. “Eventually, the smaller, less expensive jockey pump can fail, which makes the larger, more expensive main pump run to maintain pressure,” said Barrueto. Routine visual inspections can catch issues like these before they become expensive repairs.

“The first thing I do when I walk into a pump room is smell for indication of a frequently running pump,” noted Barrueto. If the room has that familiar electrical smell, that’s a good indicator that either the jockey pump or main pump has been running. This is something that should be inspected more closely by a licensed contractor.

Professional Inspections: Annual and 5-year

Fire sprinkler systems should be inspected annually. There is also a more involved five-year test.

The annual inspection tests the basic function of the system. It involves a visual inspection, but it also requires a contractor to test water flow and make sure the appropriate alarms are triggered.

The five-year test is much more comprehensive. It includes the same tests from the annual inspection but adds a complete drain of the system. This tests for any blockages or malfunctions in the system so they can be remedied. The contractor should also check the interior of the riser pipe to see if there is any built up rust.

To verify if the annual or five-year testing is current, check the testing date sticker located on the riser.

If you don’t currently have a contractor to work on your fire suppression system, it’s important to hire a contractor with a C16 and C17 license. That means they are licensed to work on sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems.

Consider designating someone within your ministry to be present during the inspections. This helps familiarize the individual with the system so they are equipped to perform regular visual inspections between the professional inspections.

Manual Water Shutoff

If a sprinkler head is ever accidentally activated, or if there is an obvious leak, it’s important to know how to quickly turn off the water supply. The shutoff valve can be located either inside or outside the building, so make sure you know how your system is configured and where you can access the shutoff if necessary.

“One sprinkler head can release a minimum of 15 gallons of water every minute,” said Barrueto. “That’s a significant amount of water. If it’s not discovered for several hours or even days, the damage can be catastrophic.”

It’s equally important to know how to access the shutoff valve. Does the room require a key for entry? Does the shutoff valve have a chain and padlock? Knowing how to access the main shutoff can save your ministry a significant amount of damage in the event of a leak. At the very least, call the fire department and have them shut off the water.

Additional Resources

• Fire Sprinkler Inspection Checklist
• Winter Fire Sprinkler Maintenance - Dry Pipe Systems
• Intelligent Leak Detection
• Prevent Frozen Pipes

Posted February 1, 2024

The information provided in this article is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.