Fire Protection Inspections: Things You Should Know

Things You Should Know About Fire Protection Inspections

If you are a property owner or a building manager, you should be aware for the need for inspections and testing of your fire protection systems. It can be hard to know the do’s and don’ts for taking care of your fire protection systems. Luckily, with the help of a fire protection contractor, taking care of your systems is simple.

Why Should I Get Inspections with a Fire Protection Contractor?

Inspections should be performed on regular schedule
Inspection and service multiyear contracts can give you discounts
Professional inspections allow your systems to keep operating properly
Inspections are required by the property insurer, and city regulations
Reduce the risk of business shutting down

What Components of Fire Protection Systems Need to be Inspected?

Inspections of your sprinkler systems include visual checks of all the sprinkler system components. Inspection frequency is dictated by NFPA 25.

Sprinkler heads
Control valves
Tamper switches
Signage
Fire dept connections
Caps

Things you Should Avoid Doing When It Comes to Inspections

Do NOT wait until you get an inspection letter from the city to get an inspection. Have your inspections performed in advance to avoid consequence such as fines or shutdowns.
Do NOT neglect inspections and maintenance if your building is empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your systems still need care and attention even if your building is not occupied.
Do NOT wait to schedule an inspection. Inspections should be scheduled in advance so your fire protection contractor can get it done when it is needed and when it fits your schedule.
Do NOT work on a live sprinkler system. Working on live systems is not only dangerous, but it could also cause flooding and costly damage to your property. If your sprinkler system needs repair or service, call your fire protection contractor.

What Maintenance Tasks Should Be Done by the Building Owner?

Although a fire protection professional needs to perform quarterly, annual, and 5-year inspections and testing, building owners are still responsible for some maintenance tasks. Performing maintenance and visual checks of your fire protection systems between visits by your contractor can help you catch issues with your system and prevent system failure and property damage. The building owner is responsible for:

Visual checks of sprinkler system valves to make sure they are open and allowing water flow to the sprinklers. Closed control valves are a cause of sprinkler system failure.
Make sure systems are free from obstruction: the building owner must make sure that all components of the fire protection system have clear access and are not obstructed.
Keep wet systems properly heated: It is the duty of the building owner to make sure that areas where there is a water filled pipe present are heated to a minimum of 40 degrees (F).
Signage: the building owner is responsible for making sure that there is proper signage placed at the system control riser

What Happens if You Don’t Prioritize Inspections?

Failing to perform inspections, testing and maintenance of fire sprinkler or fire protection systems can have devastating consequences. Some consequences of neglecting inspections include:

Leaking, rusty, and damaged components
Property damage due to false activation
Shortened system life span
Fines, penalties, or shutdowns due to not meeting regulations
Fire protection system failure

Why Work with WSFP for Inspections?

The team at Western States Fire Protection is ready to help you with all of your inspection needs. We want to make it easy for you to manage the inspections and testing of your fire protection systems. At WSFP, we offer inspections testing and service for all of your fire protection systems. When you bundle our services, you can save as much as 20% on your fire and life safety inspections.

We stock components from most major manufacturers and can provide replacements for many fire protection system components such as:

Sprinkler heads
Control valves
Fire dept connection caps
Flow switch alarms
Tamper switch alarms
Corroded, leaking pipes, fittings

We want to help you make sure your system is functioning properly and remains code compliant. If you are interested in working with us for fire protection inspections, contact us today.

Service Your Fire Pump Before Cold Weather

Get Your Fire Pump Ready for Winter

Fire pumps are a necessary part of fire protection systems in applications where adequate water pressure and volume cannot be generated by the water supply. In these applications, fire sprinkler systems will not function properly if the fire pump is not working correctly. NFPA 25 requires regular service for fire pumps. Fire pumps should be inspected and tested on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis.

Fire Pump Inspections & Testing

Weekly: Every week, fire pumps should be visually inspected to make sure that all components seem to be in good condition and free from damage. Components that are visually checked include valves, gauges, fuel and oil levels, electrical systems, ventilation, and heating.

Monthly: Monthly tests of fire pump systems include no-flow tests where the pump is turned on to check that it works properly without running water through it.

Annually: Once a year, all fire pumps need a flow test performed to ensure that the pump is performing at the proper flow rate.

What Happens During an Annual Fire Pump Test?

During annual fire pump testing, hoses are hooked up to a fire pump and water runs through the pump and discharged through the hoses. While the pump is running, pressure readings are taken at various stages of the test. The results are compared to test results from previous years and factory specifications to make sure the fire pump is working the way that it should.

Get Fire Pump Serviced Before Cold Weather

The best time to perform annual fire pump testing is before the temperatures start to drop. Since an annual test requires flowing water, it is much easier to perform before winter comes. Fire pump testing is a complex procedure and must be performed by a qualified fire protection professional. If you have not yet gotten your annual fire pump test performed this year, you should schedule a service call with your fire protection contractor before winter comes.

WSFP Performs Fire Pump Testing

Do you need a fire pump test? Western States Fire Protection performs annual and monthly fire pump testing for facilities across the western half of the United States. We can provide inspections, testing and service for all your fire protection systems. If you are interested in scheduling a service call for your fire pump or other fire protection systems, contact us today!

Inspections & Service for Fire & Life Safety Systems

Life Safety System Inspection & Service

Taking care of your fire protection systems and life safety systems should always be a priority, even if your building is vacant. If you start to lapse on your inspections, you could face repercussions in the form of a damaged fire protection system, putting lives and safety at risk and receiving fines or other penalties. Staying current on inspections does not have to be difficult. Work with a professional fire protection company that can help you stay up to date on inspections.

What Fire Protection & Life Safety Systems Need to Be Inspected?

NFPA standards dictate which fire protection and life safety systems need inspections, testing and service and how frequently service is needed. NFPA 25 is the Standard for Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, NFPA 72 dictates the testing and inspection of fire alarm systems and NFPA 101 provides the framework for life safety system inspections.

All of your fire protection and life safety systems should be inspected regularly including:

Fire alarm systems
Security systems
Fire sprinkler systems
Special hazard and clean agent systems
Backflow devices
Fire pumps
Fire hydrants
Kitchen hoods
Fire extinguishers

Fire Sprinkler System Inspection & Testing

Fire sprinkler systems should be inspected monthly, quarterly, annually and every five years. Sprinkler systems need to be tested quarterly, semiannually, annually and every 5 years. Sprinkler systems are one of the most important defenses that keep occupants and property safe from a fire so staying current on inspections and testing is very important.

Fire Pumps

Fire pumps provide higher pressure water flow for fire sprinkler and suppression systems and are essential for fire protection. Inspections and testing of fire pumps should be performed weekly, monthly and annually.

Alarm Systems

Fire alarm systems require regular inspection, testing and service. Inspections of alarm systems are done weekly, monthly, semiannually and annually. Testing of alarm systems are done annually. Keeping up to date with alarm inspections and service gives you peace of mind that building occupants will have early warning to safely exit the building during an emergency.

Get Inspected with WSFP

Western States Fire Protection provides inspections, testing and service for all your fire protection and life safety systems. We provide inspections and testing as often as required as NFPA standards, local code, and insurance requirements. We have service contracts available so you can work with WSFP for all of your inspections, testing and service needs. Request a quote for an inspection today!

Fire Sprinkler Installations in Homes

Home Fire Sprinkler

Fire Sprinkler Initiative

Recently, there has been a push for home fire sprinkler installations. Fire sprinkler systems are a great way to help protect your family and others you live with from a fire. The Fire Sprinkler Initiative is a program established by the NFPA to help legislation for home fire sprinklers to be passed in communities. The NFPA aims to educate the public about the benefits of sprinkler systems in homes.

Many fire sprinkler coalitions have been established across the United States as a part of the fire sprinkler initiative. These coalitions are working hard to make fire sprinkler installation in one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses a requirement. Some of these coalitions have been successful. For example, in California it is now required for fire sprinklers to be installed in newly constructed one- and two-family homes across the state. Check with local authorities or fire protection agencies to see if home fire sprinklers are required in your area.

NFPA 13D

NFPA 13D sets the standard for fire sprinkler installations in homes. When a fire sprinkler system for a home is designed and installed, it must comply with NFPA 13D. This standard requires at least 10 minutes of water from a sprinkler to be applied to a fire when it starts. It also mandates that sprinklers be installed in all living areas. Sprinklers are not required in bathrooms, closets, or garages.

Installations for Newly Constructed Homes

If you are building a new home and are considering installing a fire sprinkler system, do not wait. Installing fire sprinklers in a home while it is still under construction will be a lot less disruptive to your home and less expensive. It will also give you peace of mind that your home is already protected from a fire from the moment you move in. Advances in materials used for home fire sprinkler systems have made the installation process both easy and cost effective.

Fire Sprinkler System Retrofit

Retrofitting a fire sprinkler system into your finished home is a little more complicated than installing sprinklers in a home under construction. However, it is very important to have fire sprinklers in your home, so retrofitting is a great option. If you are planning to renovate your house, you may want to consider installing a sprinkler system as a part of your home renovations. Fire sprinkler systems can be designed to fit the needs and aesthetics of your home. Many home fire sprinkler retrofits can be done while minimizing the amount of disruption done to your home.

WSFP Installs Home Fire Sprinklers

Western States Fire Protection can install fire sprinklers in your home. Learn more. We have 40 locations in the western half of the United States to better serve you. Our team of technicians will design a fire sprinkler system that fits the needs of your home and complies with both NFPA and local standards. We will make the installation process as easy as possible by working with you from the beginning to the end of the project. After installation, we will test your fire sprinkler system and give you training on how your system works. For more information on installing home fire sprinklers, contact us today.

4 Reasons to Conduct a Fire System Inspection

Importance of Fire Protection Inspections

Simply having fire protection systems installed in your facility is not enough to promote life safety for the occupants of your building. Fire protection systems must be regularly inspected and serviced to keep them up to date and working. When choosing a fire protection contractor, choose a company that can provide you with regularly scheduled inspections and testing or set up a service plan for your system’s components. Below is a list of reasons you should consider having your fire protection system inspected.

Regular inspections could save lives: Inspecting your fire protection system can identify possible repairs that must be made or areas of weakness for your system. When a sprinkler system is broken, it may not release water to extinguish a fire like it should. Finding problems with your systems early on will help you get repairs done and have your system ready to defend in the event of an emergency.
Finding Deficiencies Can Save You Money. As mentioned above, inspecting your fire systems will help you identify repairs that need to be made to your components. If inspections are not performed it could cost your business extra time and a lot of money. When fire protection is not working correctly it can cause expensive damages to your building. In addition, more damage to structures can result in lost profits due to increased downtime and extensive damages. Regular inspections can identify deficiencies in your system and save you money in the long run.
Avoid Fines due to Noncompliance. Not only are inspections beneficial to life safety, they are required by NFPA standards and local fire codes. If your systems are not inspected according to regulations your business could be fined. Hiring a fire protection contractor to perform inspections as often as required by code can help you avoid extra fines.
Insurance Discounts. Many insurance companies provide discounts on insurance if your fire protection systems are inspected on a regular basis. Setting up a service plan for your fire protection system that includes regularly scheduled inspections may allow you to save money on premiums in the long run.

WSFP: A Full-Service Fire Protection Contractor

Western States Fire Protection can provide your facility with regularly scheduled inspections for your fire protection systems. We can set up a service plan to give you testing and inspections for your systems on an annual, quarterly, or monthly basis, or as often as required by local codes or insurance. Our team of technicians can provide a variety of services from installation to inspections and repairs. Working with Western States allows you to have one fire protection contractor that will fulfill all your needs. We have office locations across the western United States to service you. Contact WSFP today to learn more about fire protection inspections.

Hotel & Casino Fire Protection Services

Casino and Hotel Fire Services

When you go on vacation you probably never take the time to consider whether the hotel you checked into has the proper fire protection or not. However, you may want to consider taking time to learn more about your accommodations. A vacation is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable. You do not want to spend your time worried about safety, or worse yet, have a fire break out and be unprotected.

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Fire

Las Vegas is known for casinos, gambling, and having a good time. With these establishments comes a need for fire prevention measures that promote the life safety of people enjoying their vacation. On November 21, 1980 a fire broke out at the Vegas MGM Grand Hotel and Casino that took the lives of 85 people. In the MGM Grand Fire, the alarm system did not alert the hotel occupants of the fire. The alarm system never went off and was burned before it could notify people in the building of the danger.

This fire drew attention to the fact that many hotels had deficiencies in their fire protection systems. As a result, hotels and casinos are now required by the NFPA to have automatic fire sprinkler systems as well as fire alarms with voice communication installed and working.

Installation of a Fire Protection System

Properly installed systems are a great first step towards the safety of visitors at hotels and casinos. It is important that all hotels have automatic fire sprinkler systems, fire alarms with voice communications, emergency lighting, kitchen fire suppression, and properly placed fire extinguishers. Installed systems should work together to alert building occupants of an emergency. If you are installing a fire protection system in your hotel or casino, have it tested after installation to make sure it is functioning as it was designed to in the event of a fire.

Regular Inspections and Testing

With so many components in a hotel or casino fire protection system, chances are something will eventually need maintenance. Regular inspections and testing of fire suppression systems is necessary to identify any problems that may arise. Hotel managers can perform routine visual inspections of their fire protection systems to make sure they are activated. For more complex inspections, a fire protection contractor should come in to perform inspections for you. A fire protection contractor will be able to identify deficiencies and may be able to perform repairs, so your system is ready to if it is ever needed.

Hotel and Casino Fire Services with Western States Fire Protection

Western States Fire Protection is a full-service fire protection contractor that can install fire protection systems in hotels and casinos. We are experienced in installing fire sprinkler, suppression, and alarm systems. WSFP has a team of technicians that can inspect, test, service, and repair your hotel or casino fire systems. With locations across the Western United States, we can service your location quickly and efficiently. Contact us today to schedule and inspection of your fire protection systems.