Premium Fire Sprinkler and Suppression Services with AMC Fire Protection
Fire sprinklers are one of the most critical response tools for containing, controlling, and suppressing fires, especially when they are spreading rapidly or occurring in large areas. Many businesses, schools, and large facilities lean on these reliable systems to keep themselves and their patrons safe.
While we are located in Delran, NJ, our technicians travel far and wide to provide these premium fire prevention services in these counties:
Fire Sprinkler and Fire Suppression Inspections
The fire sprinkler inspection services provided by our team meet the regulations laid down by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 25), which includes a long list of safety standards that must be met, as well as prescriptions for how often inspections ought to be performed. Some fire equipment needs to be checked weekly, while others must be inspected monthly, quarterly, annually, or in some instances, every five years.
Below, we have taken the liberty of laying out the requirements for both quarterly and annual fire sprinkler inspections.
Quarterly Inspection Requirements
Quarterly fire sprinkler inspections include everything that is normally required for monthly inspections (1–2), plus a few additional items (3–7). The requirements are the following:
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1. Inspect valves to verify that they are in the following condition.
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- In their regular closed or open position
- Accessible
- Properly locked, sealed, or supervised
- Without physical damage
- Without external leaks
- Appropriately labeled
- Alarm drains (alarm valves) or retarding chamber are not leaking
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2. The gauges must be inspected to ascertain that they are in the following condition.
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- For wet systems, gauges must be inspected each month to ensure they are in good working condition and that appropriate water supply pressure is sustained.
- For dry systems:
- The supply-side gauge of the dry pipe valve must show that the normal supply water pressure is currently being maintained.
- The gauge on the quick-opening device, if there is one, needs to indicate the same pressure as the previously mentioned gauge.
- Gauges on systems with low nitrogen or air pressure alarms must be inspected each month.
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3. The supervisory alarm devices and water flow alarms
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The supervisory alarm devices and water flow alarms must be inspected for any physical damage.
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4. The water flow alarm
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The water flow alarm must be inspected and tested by opening up the bypass connection on dry pipe systems and by opening the test connection on wet pipe systems.
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5. The hydraulic nameplate
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If the sprinkler system in question is hydraulic, the hydraulic nameplate must be inspected to ensure that it’s attached and clearly visible.
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6. The fire department connections, the valves, and gaskets
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The fire department connections must be inspected to ascertain that they are clearly visible and without physical damage. The valves and gaskets must also be inspected to ensure that they are not damaged or leaking.
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7. The relief valves and pressure-reducing valves
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The relief valves and pressure-reducing valves, if provided, need to be inspected, to ascertain that they are:
- Not leaking
- In the proper open position
- In good working order, with hand-wheels unbroken
- Sustaining appropriate downstream pressure according to their design criteria
Annual Inspection Requirements
Annual fire sprinkler inspections include everything listed above, in addition to the following:
All sprinkler heads must be inspected, including the floor level fitting and pipes.
It must be verified that there are extra sprinkler heads available on site, as well as appropriate tools available for changing out sprinkler heads.
If applicable, the interior of any dry pipe valves must be inspected while resetting.
A main drain water flow test needs to be conducted to ascertain whether or not there has been a change in the condition of the water supply piping. This test is required every quarter if the water supply comes through a pressure-reducing valve or a backflow preventer.
Fire Suppression System Installation in the Tri-State Area
We install a variety of fire suppression systems for different applications. Our experts are trained to be able to identify the system that best suits your needs and adheres to all building codes.
Wet Sprinklers
Perhaps the most familiar type of sprinkler, these systems have pipes that are always filled with water and ready to combat a fire. They are most commonly found in office buildings, hotels, and other similar environments.
Dry Sprinklers
For environments such as warehouses and walk-in refrigerators where the temperatures are typically lower, a dry sprinkler system may be appropriate. Rather than having water in the pipes, pressurized air or nitrogen is used to hold back the water. When the system activates, the water is then released.
Clean Agents
If you have valuable or delicate assets such as telecommunications equipment or important paper documents, then a clean agent suppression system may be the ideal choice. Not only will it extinguish a fire quickly, but it does not require any clean-up afterward.
Foam Suppression
In places where water is not able to be used to extinguish a fire, foam suppression systems may be the answer. They are frequently used in applications such as airport hangars and facilities that house flammable liquids.
Restaurant Suppression Systems
Restaurants need special considerations for suppression systems due to flammable cooking oils and equipment. Our team is trained to choose the best system to meet the unique demands of this industry.
Fire Sprinkler Repairs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, & Delaware
In addition to developing and installing fire sprinklers, AMC Fire Protection also offers top-of-the-line fire sprinkler and fire hydrant repair to help ensure that your operation’s fire protection system is functioning at peak condition.
There are several potential reasons why your sprinkler system might be malfunctioning. AMC Fire Protection commonly performs fire sprinkler repairs for situations including, but not limited to:
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Unreliable Water Supplies
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Substandard Protection for Steam Turbine Generator
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Failure to Account for Nearby Sprinkler System Operations
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Freezing and Overheating
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Corrosion from Rust
If a fire breaks out in a commercial or industrial operation, it is essential that the fire sprinklers be set up correctly so that they have instant access to a proper water supply. Unfortunately, the water supply for a sprinkler system could be unreliable if the initial installation was not performed properly, necessitating fire sprinkler repairs by qualified professionals.
There is a popular misunderstanding that steam turbine fires are best extinguished through means other than water, so as to avoid thermal shock. However, while steam turbine fires are relatively rare, the damage that can be caused by a potential fire is often 50-60% of the turbine’s value. Whatever damage may be caused by a large dose of water will invariably be less than the damage the fire itself can cause, making adequate sprinkler protection for steam turbine generators vital.
When two fire sprinkler heads are placed too close together, it can bring about a condition known in the industry as “cold soldering,” where the water spraying from one sprinkler head cools off the other, preventing the heat-sensitive element from functioning, in turn, preventing it from emitting water in response to heat. Consult our experienced professionals if your establishment’s current sprinkler system has this issue.
While there are ways to set up fire sprinkler systems to minimize the risk of freezing or overheating, it is, unfortunately, a common sight to see sprinkler systems that have not been properly installed with this issue in mind. Consult our team here at AMC Fire Protection to find out how you can make sure your system is optimally protected from extreme temperatures.
Typically, preventing corrosion in sprinkler systems involves removing dissolved oxygen in wet pipe systems and eliminating water and oxygenated water from dry pipe systems. These processes for avoiding corrosion are best left to experienced technicians who are trained in a broad range of necessary fire sprinkler repairs and other forms of maintenance.
Give Us a Call Today
When it comes to the safety of your business, as well as its employees and patrons, it is important to turn to trained professionals who you can count on to protect you. Our fire sprinkler services have helped minimize the damages that can occur during a fire all across the country.
Are you interested in learning more about what makes us the first choice for fire pump services? Feel free to give us a call anytime or contact us today!