Maintenance of your fire sprinkler system per NFPA-25

JF Ahern Fire Protection Technician

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes NFPA-25, the industry standard for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems. The purpose of this document is to provide requirements that ensure a reasonable degree of protection for life and property from fire through minimum inspection, testing, and maintenance methods for water-based fire protection systems.

To meet NFPA-25 standards, a full inspection should be performed on your sprinkler system by a licensed fire sprinkler contractor at least once a year.  Some states and cities require more frequent inspections. These licensed contractors will provide you with the certification you need in order to comply with local fire department and/or insurance company inspection requirements.

Furthermore, fire sprinkler systems are designed to the conditions which exist, or are expected to exist, within the building when the sprinkler system is installed. After any changes to the building itself, or to the usage/occupancy of the building, an analysis should be done to determine if the sprinkler system is adequate. Even if the building and its use remain the same, changes in the water supply or to the equipment within the sprinkler system may necessitate a reevaluation of the system by a licensed fire sprinkler contractor.