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 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 Butterfly style control valve with tamper switch. Water Supply to System

Sprinkler Control Valve Sprinkler Control Valve. OS&Y with tamper switch.

Sprinkler Valve. Sprinkler valve or wet valve.

Sprinkler Valve operation

Fire Department Connection Internal Siamese valve.

Pressure Gauges System Pressure Gauge Supply Pressure Gauge

Retard Chamber, Pressure Switch m.jpg Retard Chamber Pressure Switch

Water Motor Gong Water Gong Bell Sprinkler System Drain

Water Motor Gong wetalarm_pic.jpg Pressure switch Water Motor Gong Bell Retard Chamber

Sprinkler Riser m.jpg Sprinkler Riser

Flow Switch uk.com/Viking_img/brochure/p32_risermanifold_1.jpg

Sprinkler heads

Sprinkler Heads

Inspectors Tests

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!!