The LWF Blog

Fire Safety for Facilities Management Personnel – Sprinkler Installation Checks – Part 242

March 4, 2024 11:58 am

Lawrence Webster Forrest (LWF) is a specialist fire engineering and fire risk management consultancy whose aim is to give information on best practice in fire safety for facilities management personnel through this blog series. In part 241, LWF talked about the proper location of sprinkler heads. In part 242, we will discuss the recommendations for daily and weekly inspection and test routines for sprinkler systems.

Once a sprinkler system is installed and operational, the performance of the system should be regularly tested and maintained. A daily and weekly inspection and test routine should be devised and put into place. BS EN 12845 makes the following recommendations:

On a daily basis –

Any unmonitored means of relaying fire signals to the fire and rescue service are checked

On a weekly basis –

Pressure gauge readings are checked as within appropriate parameters

The water motor alarm and any equipment for relaying signals to the Fire Service are checked

Pumps, e.g. fuel levels, oil levels, and other tests as described in the standard should be carried out

Vented batteries should be checked

Monitoring arrangements on stop valves of life safety systems

Heating systems provided to prevent water freezing in the sprinkler system and pipes checked

On a quarterly basis –

Servicing and maintenance of the installation should be undertaken on a quarterly basis by a specialist sprinkler maintenance contractor, unless suitably qualified persons are employed to undertake the work within the organisation.

In the course of routine safety inspections of a sprinklered building, the following should be checked:

All pipework is undamaged and all sprinkler heads and pipework are leak-free

Stop valves are secured in the open position

Goods are not stacked close to sprinkler heads (as they can block the detection of smoke and dispersal of the water spray)

No unprotected areas have been created since installation

There has been no change in the risk level that would alter the hazard classification

Sprinkler heads are unpainted

Additionally, every three years, the water tank should be inspected for signs of corrosion and should be repaired/refurbished as appropriate. It is important that water storage tanks are cleaned and examined internally by a suitably competent person at least once every ten years.

In part 243 of this series, LWF will look at the types of sprinkler system known as drencher systems, as well as water spray systems. In the meantime, if you have any queries about your own facilities or wish to discuss this blog series, please contact LWF on freephone 0800 410 1130.

Lawrence Webster Forrest is a fire engineering consultancy based in Surrey with over 35 years’ experience, which provides a wide range of consultancy services to professionals involved in the design, development and construction and operation of buildings.

 

While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in LWF’s publications is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information.