Maintaining Your Fire Protection Systems in the Winter

Begin Inspecting Early

We’ll get into the details in a moment, but it’s important that you begin inspecting your fire protection system well before temperatures start getting into freezing. By then, it could be too late and you might be left vulnerable if anything goes wrong. Of course, it’s not a bad idea to check in on your fire protection system throughout the year too.

Dry Pipe Systems

During cold weather, it’s a good idea that dry pipe systems get inspected to ensure the low point drains have been bled down. Ideally, you want to do this weekly. As temperatures decline, moisture on the inside of the pipe will condense and potentially cause problems.

Check the following on your fire protection systems to confirm they are still in working order:

• The Air Drier
• Antifreeze Systems
• Hangers that Support the Pipes

With that last one, you obviously don’t want hangers breaking and leaving pipes to hold themselves up. That’s a really good way to have them end up breaking on you. However, if you notice them sagging and the temperature has dropped, there’s a good chance it’s not the fault of the hangers. Instead, water has probably already frozen inside.

Next, check the heater located in the dry pipe valve closet. You want to make sure it is still on and that its setup is correct. Without a working heater during the winter months, many fire protection systems will undoubtedly fail. The valve closet itself is also important. It should have a temperature of at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit so that it can support your heater’s operation.

Sprinkler Piping

For establishments with fire protection systems that run on sprinkler piping, your checklist will be slightly different.

First, you need to make sure that the concealed areas or drop ceilings are adequately heated so they remain a temperature above freezing. Otherwise, you run the risk of your sprinkler piping freezing and essentially cutting off the water supply when you need it most.

Along those same lines, you need to inspect the insulation in those areas. It will serve as the first line of defense for keeping the area warm. If you check the temperature in the fall, when it hasn’t sunk below freezing yet, you may think the insulation is fine. But it’s critical you actually inspect it so you know it’s ready for winter.

Now’s also a good time to address any issues that may help your building reach unnecessarily low temperatures. Any broken windows, holes, or areas that left in a draft should be sealed up. You may not feel the difference, but if it in any way helps the temperature drop to freezing where fire protection systems are involved, it could pose a very real threat.

Take a look into how your facility deals with temperatures when no one is around. Many companies have their boiler setup so that on the weekends or at night, it shuts off. While this is great for saving energy, it also poses the risk of letting things get so cold, your fire protection system no longer functions correctly. Of course, frozen pipes may also burst and cause flooding long before fire is ever an issue.

Other areas where temperature needs to be considered are the stairwell and utility closets—basically anywhere pipes may run. All it takes is one area to get cold enough for the supply of water to get choked off and your protection system to be rendered useless.

Lastly, no matter what kind of system you have, be sure to consult NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. This not only helps with checking fire protection systems, but will make sure you’re well within the law’s requirements. Consult your insurance company, as well, for further guidance.

Author is an expert article writer who has written many articles related to fire protection.currently he is writing an article on fire protection system.