Overview

Fire suppression systems are used to extinguish or prevent the spread of fire in a building. Suppression systems use a combination of dry chemicals and/or wet agents to suppress equipment fires.

Suppression systems have become a necessity to several industries as they help control damage and loss to equipment.

According to the NFPA, the responsibility for inspection, testing, maintenance, and recharging of the fire protection system shall ultimately be that of the owner(s) of the system.

Owner’s Responsibilities / Inspection.

1. On a monthly basis, inspection shall be conducted in accordance with the owner’s manual.

2. The system owner shall maintain the design and installation documents and maintenance manual or owner’s manual on the premises and shall make them available for review, upon request, by the authority having jurisdiction.

3. At a minimum, the inspection shall include verification of the following:

The extinguishing system is in its proper location.
The manual actuators are unobstructed.
The tamper indicators and seals are intact.
The maintenance tag or certificate is in place.
No obvious physical damage or condition exists that might prevent operation.
The pressure gauge(s), if provided, has been inspected physically or electronically to ensure it is in the operable range.
The nozzle blow off caps, where provided, are intact and undamaged.
The hazard has not changed, including replacement, modification, and relocation of protected equipment (Appliances).
If any deficiencies are found, appropriate corrective action shall be taken immediately.
Where the corrective action involves maintenance, it shall be conducted by a service technician.
Personnel making inspections shall keep records for those extinguishing systems that were found to require corrective actions.
At least monthly, the date the inspection is performed and the initials of the person performing the inspection shall be recorded.
The records shall be retained for the period between the semiannual maintenance inspections.

Maintenance

A service technician who has the applicable manufacturer’s design, installation, and maintenance manual and service bulletins shall service the wet chemical fire-extinguishing system at intervals of no more than 6 months.

At least semiannually and after any system activation, maintenance shall be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s design, installation, and maintenance manual.

Maintenance shall include the following

Check to see that the hazard has not changed
An examination of all detectors, the expellant gas container(s), the agent container(s), releasing devices, piping, hose assemblies, nozzles, signals, all auxiliary equipment, and the liquid level of all non-pressurized wet chemical containers
Verification that the agent distribution piping is not obstructed
Where maintenance of any wet chemical containers reveals conditions such as, but not limited to, corrosion or pitting in excess of the manufacturer’s limits; structural damage; fire damage; or repairs by soldering, welding, or brazing, the affected container shall be hydro-statically tested or replaced in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer or the listing agency.
Where maintenance of any wet chemical system components reveals corrosion or pitting in excess of the manufacturer’s limits, structural damage, or fire damage, the affected part(s) shall be replaced
All wet chemical systems shall be tested, which shall include operation of the detection system signals and releasing devices, including manual stations and other associated equipment.
Parts that are found during maintenance that could cause an impairment or failure of operation of the system shall be replaced by listed components in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Until such repairs are accomplished, the systems shall be tagged as impaired, and the owner or owner’s representative responsible for the system and, where required, the authority having jurisdiction shall be notified of the impairment.
When all repairs have been accomplished and the system has been restored to full operating conditions, all previously notified parties shall be informed that the system is in the full operating condition.
The maintenance report, including any recommendations, shall be filed with the owner or with the owner’s representative.
The owner or owner’s representative shall retain all maintenance reports for a period of 1 year after the next maintenance of that type required by the standard.
Each wet chemical system shall have a tag or label securely attached, indicating the month and year the maintenance is performed and identifying the person performing the service. Only the current tag or label shall remain in place.
Fixed temperature sensing elements of the fusible metal alloy type or glass bulb type shall be replaced at least semiannually from the date of installation or more frequently, If necessary, and shall be destroyed when removed.
Replacement fixed temperature-sensing elements shall be listed and shall be the same temperature ratings as the ones being replaced unless temperature readings dictate a need for a change.
The year of manufacture and the date of installation of the fixed temperature-sensing element shall be marked on the system inspection tag, and the tag shall be signed or initialed by the installer.