During every annual fire sprinkler inspection, there are two important questions that the building owner needs to be able to answer. Question #1: “Has the occupancy and hazard of contents remained the same since the last inspection?” Fire sprinkler systems are not ‘one size fits all.'

NFPA 25 requires an internal inspection of fire sprinkler system piping every five years. This is to be conducted to inspect for the “presence of foreign organic and inorganic material.” Foreign materials can cause obstructions to pipe and sprinklers.

Most businesses are subject to regular fire department inspections. Every building has its own special characteristics; therefore, every fire inspection is different. However, there are some common items that fire department officials will inspect in every facility: Means of Egress...

When ductwork passes though rated fire or smoke walls, a life safety damper is required in order to maintain the rating of the wall. In the event of a fire, these dampers close and limit the spread of heat and smoke beyond the wall. There are 3 main types of life safety dampers:

Don’t see the value of fire protection preconstruction services during the design phase of your project? The impact might not be visible early on, but as the project advances you’ll see that you’ve avoided potential pitfalls by engaging a fire protection advisor at the outset. We...

What is a private fire hydrant? Any hydrant on private property rather than city owned property is considered a private hydrant. It is a valved connection to a water main to supply water to fire protection equipment, such as a fire hose, during a fire emergency. A fire hydrant on...

Chapter 5 of NFPA 25 (Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems), 2011 edition contains requirements for sample testing or replacement of fire sprinklers. As all fire sprinklers are not the same, requirements for sample testing or...

Bringing Some Clarity to the Situation If you have dealt with a Combustible Dust hazard in your facility, you are aware of the many National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes involved in your attempt to find the proper resolution to Reducing Your Risks. Currently, when you dive...

What is microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)? Microbiologically influenced corrosion or MIC, is an electrochemical process which involves bacteria that can accelerate previously occurring corrosion in both wet- and dry-pipe fire sprinkler systems. MIC always involves bacteria...

Where is the most important data space in your manufacturing facility? Most likely, it isn’t the front office anymore. Today, as the world of manufacturing has transitioned to a process environment where a reduced labor force can operate the facility, almost every piece of process and...