Common Issues Found During Fire Sprinkler Testing

Having your fire sprinkler systems tested is a must-do process to make sure that your building is in compliance with safety standards and to make sure that it is working properly for fire protection. 

While doing these routine checks, many professionals do find issues that pop-up more often than others that can disrupt the performance of the sprinkler system. That is why it's important that these issues should be identified and remedied to make sure that your safety measures work as they should. 

In this blog, we will look at some of these common issues that have been flagged during fire sprinkler testing, and also why servicing and maintaining is so important.

The Importance of Regular Fire Sprinkler Servicing

When you install fire sprinkler systems in your building, you are putting in your own "silent guardians” into the building that will operate when there is a fire, protecting your building and saving lives. 

But without regular servicing and testing done by professionals, the effectiveness of the system can deteriorate over time. Having your fire sprinkler system routinely evaluated by professionals will allow them to detect any possible issues quickly, fixing them and keep your system in the best possible condition. If you don’t take these servicing and testing seriously, you can put lives and your property in some serious risks.

Common Issues Uncovered During Testing

Corroded Pipes and Fittings

One of the most common issues fire sprinkler testing uncovered is corrosion within the sprinkler system’s pipes and fittings. This is often caused by long-term exposure to humidity and moisture, which can then lead to rust and deterioration when left alone. 

The corrosion can reduce the water flow while in worst case scenarios, it can even cause leaks or blockages. You will then have to deal with costly repairs and leaving it as it will compromise the functionality of your fire sprinkler system. 

Part of the regular service checks is to make sure that any signs of corrosion are fixed quickly to make sure your system remains reliable.

Obstructed Sprinkler Heads

When the sprinkler heads are blocked or obstructed, it can also cause your fire sprinkler system to underperform. This will limit their ability to distribute the water correctly when they are activated. 

Professionals will clean these obstructions and blockages from the sprinkler heads during the servicing visit, making sure that they remain free of grime. Small actions like these will make sure that the emergency responsiveness of the systems stays at its peak.

Incorrect Water Pressure

It doesn't help if you have fire sprinklers in your building if the water pressure levels are not up to standard. 

Incorrect water pressure can prevent the system from discharging the water as it should, while on the flip side, having excessive pressure can wear the components down before their time. 

When professionals test the system, they will evaluate the pressure levels to make sure that it meets the stands that are set out by industry professionals. So, having the right water pressure will not only make sure that your system works right, but it can also extend the system’s lifespan too.

Faulty Alarm Connections

A fire sprinkler system is a comprehensive safety network, that is because it works (more often than not) together with a fire alarm system. But what many professionals find when they do maintenance inspections is that the alarm connections have become loose or even misaligned. 

This means that when the sprinklers are activated, it will not activate the fire alarm function. So doing regular testing will make sure that both the systems work right when there really is a fire situation.

Leaks and Drips

If the fire sprinklers leaks or waste water by dripping, it could mean that the seals, joints or valves have wear-and-tear on them. On a more serious note, small leaks can over time escalate into major issues. 

These issues can be water damage to the building and even reduce the potency of your system to fight against fires. Testing your fire sprinkler systems will be able to pick up on leaks and drips and have them fixed before things get out of hand.

Valve Malfunctions

The valve helps to regulate the water supply to the system and make sure that it works right, making this component a very important part of the fire sprinkler system. 

Many professionals have come across valves that have become stuck, positioned wrong, or even damaged when they do the fire sprinkler test. That is why the testing is important, as they can fix these issues and make sure that your system stays in a working condition.

Ageing Components

Even fire sprinklers are subjected to the annoying wear and tear situation. This can cause the components in the system to become outdated or even falling out of meeting the safety standard. 

They then become less reliable to work as newer parts can. This is part of the testing and inspection process professionals do where they check the hardware to see if they aged and may not meet the safety requirements anymore. 

Yes, this will mean that you will have to replace or upgrade these aging components in order not just to meet regulatory obligations but also make sure that your system works right.

Issues with Pipe Slope and Alignment

Having the right pipe slope and alignment is important so that the drainage and water flow work correctly. Otherwise, you will have poolin,g which then ripples into a possible corrosion risk that can negatively affect your entire system. 

Problems with Sprinkler Coverage

More often than not, a common issue many professionals see when they do fire sprinkler testing is that there is not enough sprinkler coverage within a building. This normally becomes an issue after the building was renovated or partitions were put up. 

One of the easiest ways to not fall into this issue is to make sure that the sprinkler placements still align with the current design of the property, otherwise you will have areas of the building not covered when a fire breaks out.

Conclusion

Having fire sprinklers in your building is a phenomenal tool to save lives and your assets during a fire. But its potency heavily rests on having the systems regularly tested and maintained. 

Otherwise, you will just be sitting with building fixtures as decorations. Make sure that your tests are done by professionals and that you get the necessary paperwork afterwards.