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 314-329 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.

http://www.vfpfire.com/projects/images/shemya-island/wet-system.jpg

Sprinkler Valve.

www.vanguardfire.com/images/stories/sprinkler/sprinkler_wet_valve.jpg

Sprinkler valve or wet valve.

Sprinkler Valve operation

Fire Department Connection

Internal Siamese valve.

Pressure Gauges

http://www.vfpfire.com/projects/images/shemya-island/wet-system.jpg

System Pressure Gauge

Supply Pressure Gauge

Retard Chamber, Pressure Switch

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4387390289_6af378b10f_m.jpg

Retard Chamber

Pressure Switch

Water Motor Gong

Water Gong Bell

Sprinkler System Drain

Water Motor Gong

http://www.lifetechfire.co.uk/products/sprinklers/wetalarm_pic.jpg

Pressure switch

Water Motor

Gong Bell

Retard Chamber

Sprinkler Riser

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4387390289_6af378b10f_m.jpg

Sprinkler Riser

Flow Switch

http://www.firesense.com.au/images/flow_switch.jpghttp://www.viking-uk.com/Viking_img/brochure/p32_risermanifold_1.jpg

Sprinkler heads

Sprinkler Heads

http://www.vikinggroupinc.com/databook/sprinklers/standard/sr/stcov/080106.pdf

Inspectors Tests

http://www.reliablesprinkler.com/pdfs/products/AGFTEST&Drain.pdf

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 system1. 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

• Continued6. 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 bulb8. 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 semiannually3. These tests shall be performed by opening the

inspectors test connection.

Testing Procedures

• Continued4. 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!!