Replies

1. 
   Pierre1 | Jan 09, 2005 09:38am | #1

   Friend of mine is a certified sprinkler journeyman - residential, commercial, high rise, industrial.... Tells me that regular maintenance is required to make sure system components are not seized up with rust. When they are, the system does not perform as designed. For instance, a seized flow gate in the sector that has a fire would fail to send a signal to the control panel. No signal at the panel means no fire alarm sounded in the building.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 1/9/2005 1:40 am ET by Pierre1

2. 
   boulderbuilder | Jan 09, 2005 05:19pm | #2

   in our area, it is the discretion of the fire marshal.  If there are 100 heads total in a building and you are moving/adding 5 of them, he probably won't.  If you are doing 20, we will beat him to the punch and just do it.  We have to test to 200lbs. 

   Dave

    

1. 
   jrnbj | Jan 09, 2005 11:49pm | #3

   Thanks for the info...we are replacing ~200 heads on plastic pipe....guess most likely they will require a pressure test....it's obvious that moving heads would trigger a needed test, but not so sure about just changing out at existing locations....

1. 
   Robrehm | Jan 10, 2005 12:27am | #4

   As previously stated, it tends to depend on where yuo are. On a practical side, you would be crazy not to. If you don't & there is any kiond of a fire, you will be questioned on liability. Speaking of which, be sure you are covered on your insurance. this tends to be one of the non covered items.

1. 
   jrnbj | Jan 10, 2005 12:33am | #5

   Thanks....I'm in Arlington Co. Va.....part of the problem is getting real info from the county, as opposed to stories from the sprinkler sub.
   Happily I'm just the owners rep. on this job, so my insurance isn't an issue...but thanks for the warning...

3. 
   TRice | Jan 10, 2005 05:06pm | #6

   Per the NFPA (I don't remember which section) any time a fire system is opened for maintenance or modification, it must be tested the same as a new installation.