Fire Protection: Crucial Management Guidelines for Sprinkler Systems


The water distribution structure must have adequate pressure and high flow rate for efficiency during a fire. This type of fire protection method is highly efficient and it can control most significant fires. On the other hand, the effectiveness of the system will depend on the maintenance practices upheld in your commercial premises. Poor management can cause the system to fail in an emergency.

Here are some crucial guidelines on fire sprinkler maintenance and management to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Understand Sprinkler Standards

The design of fire sprinkler system should adhere to the Australian Standards AS 2118 on Automatic Fire Sprinkler systems. These regulations and rules outline minimum requirements for the fire protection system to ensure functionality and durability of the sprinklers. Therefore, if you are purchasing and installing sprinklers for the first time, choose products designed by a company which follows these standards as well as strict quality management systems. If you already have a sprinkler system, you should engage a fire protection expert to perform a review and make recommendations based on the condition of the sprinklers.

Lock the Control Valves

You should make sure that the fire sprinkler valves are locked for the best security. If the employees or other people tamper with the valves, the sprinklers could fail to activate when a fire arises. When locking up the sprinkler control valves, make sure that they are in the open position. If they are closed, water will not flow out in an emergency. You can also supervise any tampering by using the alarm system. Anti-tamper switches can be installed, and they will send a signal in case someone interferes.

Perform Regular Inspections

Mishaps and damage can occur in your fire sprinkler setup due to normal aging and undetected tampering. Therefore, you should commission regular inspections to ensure that all is in order. Small adjustments can be costly in the event of a fire, so you should not assume that your sprinklers are working. Frequent inspections are better for the highest level of safety. After inspections, make sure that the discovery and details are documented.