Tulsa & OKC Fire Sprinkler Systems - Long-Term Maintenance Code

Tulsa and Oklahoma City fire sprinkler systems have shown themselves to be highly effective at protecting people and property in a fire. But these fire sprinklers can only be this effective if they are in good working order and that requires inspections and maintenance. For business owners and property managers, this maintenance could easily get bypassed amid their various other responsibilities. So as a reminder, we’ll mention some of the long-term maintenance required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

NFPA 25 requires weekly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual inspections of various fire sprinkler system parts depending on the type of fire sprinkler. In addition to an inspection, some parts need testing and maintenance during these intervals or even at intervals of 5 years or more.

Fire sprinkler gauges are one component that must be tested and maintained every 5 years. According to NFPA 25, gauges for fire sprinklers must be replaced every 5 years or tested every 5 years in comparison with a calibrated gauge. If these gauges are not accurate to within 3 percent of the full scale, they must be recalibrated or replaced. These gauges must also be inspected weekly, monthly, or quarterly depending on the type of sprinkler used.

Sprinkler heads also need testing at specific intervals in addition to their other annual inspections. At 50 years, sprinkler heads must be replaced or representative samples from one or more sample areas tested, and then test procedures are to be repeated at 10-year intervals. After 75 years of service, sprinklers must be replaced or representative samples tested and testing repeated at 5-year intervals. Any sprinklers manufactured before 1920 must be replaced.

Fast-response sprinklers that have been in operation for 20 years are required to be tested and then retested at 10-year intervals thereafter. Extra-high or greater temperature, solder-type sprinklers, which for instance may be found in a boiler room, are required to be tested every 5 years. Sprinklers located in harsh environments, such as those exposed to the outside weather, must be replaced or tested every 5 years. Dry sprinklers in operation for 10 years must be tested or replaced and must be retested every 10 years afterward.

Every 5 years, system valves must also be inspected to make sure that all of their components operate correctly, move freely, and are in operative condition. Dry pipe sprinklers also require a full flow trip test every 3 years. The internal condition of the system’s piping must also be inspected every 5 years where conditions exist that could cause any obstruction in the piping.

These are some of the main long-term maintenance and inspections that must be performed on fire sprinkler systems. Mac Systems in Tulsa and Oklahoma City will gladly take care of all your fire sprinkler inspections, maintenance, and testing to make sure your business is safe and always code compliant. Contact us for a complete list of fire sprinkler inspections and maintenance required by the NFPA and local codes and to schedule a fire sprinkler or complete fire protection system maintenance and inspection.