Fire emergencies rarely provide any warning before they strike. Fortunately, your building is protected by fire equipment designed to limit property damage and prevent loss of life. However, fire protection equipment deteriorates with time. Corrosion, tampering, careless use, and accidental damage all threaten the condition of your fire equipment.
That’s why routine inspections are so important—they ensure your equipment is operating correctly in case disaster strikes. After all, it’s better to discover a problem during an inspection than in the middle of an emergency!
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has very precise standards regarding what must be inspected, by whom, and how frequently. Let’s break down the requirements.
Weekly & Monthly DIY Fire Equipment Inspections
In most cases, it’s acceptable for frequent weekly and monthly inspections to be performed by one of your employees, granted you provide the proper training to carry out adequate visual checks. If you don’t have the resources to take care of these inspections yourself, Fie Guys NY can handle them on your behalf.
A quick churn test is the most common inspection businesses must perform on a weekly basis. This is when the fire pump is turned on for five minutes before being placed back in the automatic position.
- Monthly tests are more common. These include:
- Opening all fire protection control valves to ensure they aren’t blocked
- Verifying electric power to the fire pump
- Inspecting fire extinguishers to confirm they are installed, accessible, and fully charged
- Checking indoor hose connections to confirm they are in place and accessible
- Checking fire hydrants for accessibility and good physical condition
Quarterly Professional Fire Equipment Inspections
Quarterly inspections are largely visual checks to ensure fire protection components are free from physical damage. Most of the inspections required within this timeframe relate to the sprinkler system. You must schedule services from a professional to test the following:
- Waterflow signal and alarm devices
- Pressure reducing/relief valves
- Valves and valve components
- Gauges in wet pipe systems
- Mechanical waterflow devices
- Fire department connections
- Backflow prevention systems
Annual Professional Fire Equipment Inspections
The most comprehensive testing is performed annually. These inspections incorporate both visual assessments and hands-on tests to ensure the equipment is in proper working order. Here are some of the tests that must occur yearly:
Fire Extinguishers
- All monthly inspections
- Conductivity test (for carbon dioxide extinguishers)
- Hanger/seismic bracing
- Hydrostatic testing (every five years for pressurized water, wet chemical, and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers; every 12 years for dry chemical extinguishers)
Fire Alarms
- Control equipment/building systems
- All initiating devices (smoke and heat detectors, manual pull stations, carbon monoxide alarms, etc.)
- Alarm notification devices (horns and bells, strobe lights, etc.)
- Voice/alarm equipment
- Special hazard equipment
- Mass notification system components
Sprinkler Systems
- Pipes and fittings
- Valves and valve components
- Hangers/seismic bracing
- Antifreeze concentration
- Backflow prevention assemblies
- Spare sprinklers
- Standpipes
- Main drain
- Fire pump
- Private hydrants
Emergency Exit Signs
- 90-minute battery drain test
- Confirmation of charge voltage
- Hazard assessment
- Alignment of heads
Schedule Fire Equipment Inspections in New York
With so many responsibilities on your plate, it can be difficult to keep track of what inspections your fire equipment requires and when. Fire Guys NY is here to help keep you on track. We’ll remind you when code-required inspections are coming up and make scheduling maintenance visits convenient for you. If we spot anything wrong during an inspection, our team is qualified to make repairs, recharge fire extinguishing equipment, and replace damaged parts.
With Fire Guys NY as your fire protection partner, you know you’re always covered! Contact us online or call (631) 253-0138 today to schedule fire equipment inspections for your New York business.
