Wet Sprinkler Systems
Identifying components of, and
inspection and testing procedures.
Wet sprinkler systems.
• Sprinkler systems save lives and conserve
property if they work the way they are designed
and intended to work.
• If they are not properly maintained and inspected
they may not work the way you want them to
when you want them to.
• Being properly educated on these systems allows
you to properly inspect and test them and also to
verify that they have been properly inspected and
tested.
Wet sprinkler systems.
• A wet pipe sprinkler system has automatic
sprinklers attached to pipes with water under
pressure all the time.
• When a sprinkler head is activated by heat
this causes water to flow out of the sprinkler
head and onto the fire.
Wet sprinkler systems
• Our station is equipped with a wet sprinkler
system that we are responsible for testing,
otherwise we do not need to test sprinkler
systems, but we do need to verify that they
have been properly tested when we do our
inspections as part of a building inspection.
The actual testing of the system falls onto the
owner of the building or there tenant if that is
part of the contract they have worked out.
Terminal objective.
• Given a lesson on proper testing and
inspection procedures of wet sprinkler
systems, the firefighter will explain the proper
testing/inspection procedure of said system in
accordance with the NFPA 25- Standard for
the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of
water based fire protection systems with
100% accuracy.
Enabling objective.
• Given a review of wet sprinkler system
components the firefighter shall identify the
various components of a wet sprinkler system
in accordance with Delmar Firefighters
Handbook NY edition with 100% accuracy.
Previous assignment
• You should have read pages 314-329 in the
firefighters handbook on protective systems to
re-familiarize yourself with the components of
a sprinkler system.
Safety Information.
• If you are working with overhead obstructions
or any particulars when checking sprinkler
systems Hardhats, safety glasses, and gloves
should be worn.
• If you are using a ladder to check higher level
components proper safety procedures for
ladders should be followed.
Safety Information
• Watch out for wet floors around sprinkler
systems whether it be because of leaks or
from testing procedures.
• If you must turn a valve that is difficult to turn
get someone to help you turn it so that you
don’t injure yourself.
• Today we are going to go over the
components of a wet sprinkler system and
proper testing and inspection procedures of
said system.
System Overview
Water Supply to
System
Butterfly style
control valve
with tamper
switch.
Water Supply
Sprinkler Control Valve
Sprinkler Control
Valve. OS&Y with
tamper switch.
http://www.vfpfire.com/projects/images/shemya-island/wet-system.jpg
Sprinkler Valve.
Sprinkler valve
or wet valve.
www.vanguardfire.com/images/stories/sprinkler/sprinkler_wet_valve.jpg
Sprinkler Valve operation
Fire Department Connection
Internal
Siamese
valve.
Pressure Gauges
System Pressure
Gauge
Supply Pressure
Gauge
http://www.vfpfire.com/projects/images/shemya-island/wet-system.jpg
Retard Chamber, Pressure Switch
Pressure Switch
Retard Chamber
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4387390289_6af378b10f_
m.jpg
Water Motor Gong
Water Gong Bell
Sprinkler System Drain
Water Motor Gong
Pressure switch
Water Motor
Gong Bell
Retard Chamber
http://www.lifetechfire.co.uk/products/sprinklers/
wetalarm_pic.jpg
Sprinkler Riser
Sprinkler Riser
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4387390289_6af378b10f_
m.jpg
Flow Switch
http://www.firesense.com.au/images/flow_switch.jpg
http://www.vikinguk.com/Viking_img/brochure/p32_risermanifold_1.jpg
Sprinkler heads
Sprinkler Heads
http://www.vikinggroupinc.com/databook/sprinklers/standard/sr/stcov/080106.pdf
Inspectors Tests
http://www.reliablesprinkler.com/pdfs/products/AGFTEST&Drain.pdf
Sprinkler System Activation
• Those are the various components of a wet
sprinkler system and their purpose and
operation during a system activation.
Inspection Procedures
• When you do a building inspection you want
to check several things on a sprinkler system
1. Check to make sure the building owner has
inspection records showing they conform with
NFPA 25.
•
•
Table 5.1 refers to sprinkler system components
inspection and testing Schedule.
Table 13.1 refers to valves and valve components
inspection and testing schedule.
Sprinkler Inspection Schedule
Sprinkler Test Schedule
Valve Inspection Schedule
Valve Inspection Schedule Cont.
Valve Test Schedule
Inspection Procedures
• When performing a walk through inspection
check the following things.
1. Outside valve is open and locked if there is one.
2. FDC Clean and usable?
3. Inside control valve is open and secured. (if valves
are not secured do they have tamper switches)
4. Pressure gauges in good condition and reading
the same?
5. Hydraulic nameplate present?
Inspection Procedures
• Continued
6. Check all valves, connections, piping and heads
to see that they are free of damage.
7. If sprinkler head is bulb type check to see that
fluid is still in bulb
8. Minimum distance from head to storage 18”.
9. Check the wall box to make sure enough spare
sprinklers are present.
Testing Procedures
• When testing the system follow the NFPA 25
Schedules on table 5.1 and 13.1 for testing
sprinkler components and valves.
1. Mechanical water flow (water gong) devices
shall be tested quarterly.
2. Vane type (flow switch) and pressure switch type
shall be tested semiannually
3. These tests shall be performed by opening the
inspectors test connection.
Testing Procedures
• Continued
4. Main drain tested annually: be sure to record the
static and residual pressures on the system.
5. Control valves operated annually and are in
proper position?
6. Control valve tamper switch alarms received?
Test semiannually.
Quiz Time
• Take 15 minutes to take quiz then hand in to
me when completed.
Terminal Objective.
• Given a lesson on proper testing and
inspection procedures of wet sprinkler
systems, the firefighter will explain the proper
testing/inspection procedure of said system in
accordance with the NFPA 25- Standard for
the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of
water based fire protection systems with
100% accuracy.
Enabling Objective.
• Given a review of wet sprinkler system
components the firefighter shall identify the
various components of a wet sprinkler system
in accordance with Delmar Firefighters
Handbook NY edition with 100% accuracy.
Summary
• You should now know the various components
of a wet sprinkler system and the proper
procedure to inspect and test those
components. This should make it much easier
to inspect and determine problems with such
systems.
Assignment
• Perform an inspection of the sprinkler system
in the station with your shift officer observing
as you tell them what you are doing.
• Perform a full test of the sprinkler system with
your shift officer observing to verify proper
testing.
Thank You All
• Thank you all for coming and learning about
sprinklers.
• Hopefully some of what I showed you today
will assist you with your work involving
sprinkler systems.
• I will be available after completion to answer
any questions you might have.
• BE SAFE!!