What to Expect When You’re Inspecting

Offering fire system inspections and compliance assurance not only elevates safety but delivers contractors a host of benefits. They include: increasing customer retention; uncovering upsell opportunities; making cash flow predictable and the business appealing to creditors/investors; reducing false alarms and ingratiating first responders; and increasing the enterprise’s long-term value.

Types of systems subject to regular inspections and tests include fire alarms, fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers, kitchen/range hood systems, special hazards suppression systems and emergency lighting.Automatic Sprinkler Systems —Building owners and facility managers have important responsibilities for the proper maintenance of fire sprinkler systems. Most jurisdictions have adopted NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, as the standard that guides the inspection, testing and maintenance of these systems. The importance of these activities is described in the standard: “History has shown that the performance reliability of a water-based fire protection system under fire-related conditions increases where comprehensive inspection, testing, and maintenance procedures are enforced.”

It is important that inspectors understand the intricacies of sprinkler systems in order to conduct a proper inspection and identify deficiencies that need to be corrected. Depending on the component, most inspections of automatic sprinkler systems need to be conducted on a regular basis, anywhere from weekly to annually. The inspections include gauges, control valves, water flow and signal devices, and actual sprinkler operation.

Fire Extinguishers — Portable extinguishers are often the first line of defense in the event of a fire. Yet national statistics report that more than 25% are under-pressurized at any time. Being certain that they are suitably located, charged and in proper working order can make a critical difference in the outcome of an emergency. Annual scheduled preventive maintenance and inspection helps keep them charged and ready to use.

Inspectors should confirm that extinguishers are properly positioned, valves and hoses checked for possible obstructions, the extinguisher use class is clearly identified, and that the device is appropriate for anticipated hazards. Fire extinguisher testing and inspection standards are outlined in NFPA 10: Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

Kitchen/Range Hood Systems — With today’s high-temperature appliances, cooking oils and solid fuels, it is imperative that any kitchen fire suppression system be in top working order to help protect the safety of guests, employees and property. A semi-annual inspection is conducted to perform an automatic trip test, verify gas and electric shutoff function, replace fusible links, inspect and verify all nozzles, and complete other work. Scheduled inspection and maintenance of these vital fire suppression systems can help prevent injury and costly, unnecessary discharges as well as loss of cooking media and valuable revenue-generating time.

Keeping kitchen/range hood systems in good working order will help ensure they are meeting the challenges of high-temperature environments. Kitchen and range-hood system testing and inspection requirements are outlined in NFPA 17A: Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems.

Special Hazards Suppression Systems — Special hazard suppression systems are required to be inspected in accordance with NFPA 72: Life Safety Code, and NFPA 2001: Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguisher Systems. Inspectors should be intimately familiar with special hazards detection systems and clean agent or dry chemical fire suppression. Inspections require semi-annual detailed scheduled checks of the distribution piping network and nozzles, release mechanism, detection devices, and the inspection of each re
lease control device. In addition, there is a requirement that system cylinders be weighed annually. The inspections help keep these critical systems ready to protect people and property in an emergency. 

Emergency Lights —In the event of a power loss or fire, building occupants may need to depend on emergency lighting and exit signs to help guide them to safety. To avoid a dangerous failure in an actual emergency, annual testing and inspection in accordance with NFPA 101: Life Safety Code becomes vitally important. At the very least, it requires identifying detrimental site conditions that may affect performance, ensuring proper illumination, and inspection of bulbs, lamp heads, charging units and batteries.

Blend Best Practices & Technology

In addition to following applicable standards and using appropriate system inspection procedures, a number of best practices and technology advancements can be applied to simplify the inspection process, enhance safety and provide more value to end users.

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