We’ve all heard the saying “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Well, when it comes to your sprinkler systems in a commercial or industrial building, that saying really rings true.
A sprinkler system will generally not extinguish a fire. To recognise the occupant characteristics and building complexities, the NCC (National Construction Codes) mandates AS 2118 sprinklers in all buildings greater than 25m in height and when certain conditions are met in other occupancy types such as aged care, hospitals, large shopping centres and storage buildings.
The NCC is updated every three years with the latest edition released in May 2018. It indicates where AS 2118 sprinkler systems are required across all occupancy types including commercial, residential, industrial and institutional occupancies. These requirements are mandatory across Australia.
The National Construction Code (NCC) also requires the installation of an AS2118 automatic fire sprinkler system in buildings where the floor area exceeds 500m2. Previously a sprinkler system was required in all buildings where the floor area exceeded 300m2. The NCC also mandates the installation of sprinkler systems in hotels and apartments greater than three storeys and less than 25m in height.
For these buildings only, however, there is the option of installing either an FPAA101H or FPAA101D in lieu of an AS 2118 sprinkler system.
To compensate for the cost of sprinkler installation in these lower height types of hotels and apartments, the NCC deemed to satisfy provisions allow certain concessions, including reductions in system maintenance, reductions in hydrant system requirements and reduction to fire resistance levels in fire compartments. Table 1 provides a comparison of some of the significant requirements and operating specifications of the differing sprinkler system options.
Tab 1
There is more than to the health of your system than just sprinkler adjustment alone.
A fire suppression system is designed to protect people, property and assets. Often times, a defective or inaccurate fire suppression system can be triggered by not being set correctly. When this happens, spaces may be damaged because of the sprinkler system—this is where a sprinkler adjustment comes in handy.
If you have a fire protection system installed in your home or business, that is great! But to ensure it is always working properly, it is important to make sure your system is set accordingly. A sprinkler adjustment can help with this process.
A sprinkler adjustment is when a qualified fire protection company reprograms the settings on your sprinklers so they are programmed appropriately for the type of environment you are in. This will help prevent an accidental discharge from occurring due to an alarm or a sensor malfunctioning
The AS 1851 – 2012 recommends that fire protection systems be inspected and tested annually. A fire sprinkler adjustment is a more detailed inspection of the fire protection system than an annual inspection. A fire sprinkler system is a critical life safety system for your facility. It’s important to make sure that it’s operating properly at all times.
All parts of a fire sprinkler system need to be tested and adjusted as per AS 1851
A fire sprinkler system consists of several components, including pumps, valves, gauges, pipes and fittings. All these components must be inspected, tested and if needed, adjusted, repaired or replaced to ensure that system is working properly.
Below is a description of the main inspections performed during an annual adjustment:
Pump Inspection and testing
The pump is one of the most important components in a fire protection system. The pump must be adjusted to provide adequate pressure at the highest point required by the design of the system. This can only be determined by using specialized equipment during an inspection or test.
Fire Pump Inspections are done in accordance with Australian Standard AS 1851-2012 Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment.
- These inspections include:
Pump room integrity check - Inspection of jockey pump and controller
- Inspection of electric motor and starter
- Instrumentation readings including temperatures, pressures, vacuum breakers, etc.
Fire Pump Testing is necessary to ensure that the system is functioning correctly and that it will operate when required. Fire pumps are most commonly tested annually to AS 1851-2012 Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment.
Fire Pump Flow Test
The flow rate through the pump must be measured at least once per year. This flow rate determines how much water will be available for fighting a fire in your facility. A fire pump flow test AS1851 is a test that ensures the fire pump will provide enough water in the event of a fire.
The flow rate through the pump must be measured at least once per year. This flow rate determines how much water will be available for fighting a fire in your facility.
Hydrostatic and Flow Tests are two different tests, they are often confused.
The Hydrostatic Test is conducted to test the integrity of the pressure vessel or piping system and this is usually done when new systems are installed or when a system has been repaired or altered.
A Flow Test is conducted to determine the maximum flow rate of water that can be pumped from the discharge point of a fire pump.
The purpose of this test is to ensure that your facility or business will have adequate water supply in order to fight any potential fires.
Valve Adjustment
There are usually several valves in a fire sprinkler system, and each valve must be adjusted to ensure proper operation. Valves are adjusted so that they will open at the correct pressure when the system is tested, and also close at the correct pressure after testing.
The correct pressure to use for adjustment is stated on the valve data plate (which is usually on the top of the valve). The valves in a fire sprinkler system may all be set for 70 kPa (10 psi) or 150 kPa (20 psi), depending on local standards and regulations.
Valve adjustment occurs during periodic fire sprinkler system testing and maintenance, as part of AS1851.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the importance of having your fire sprinkler system serviced and adjusted on annual and semi-annual basis. If you have any further questions regarding this service or would like to talk to one of our techies, feel free to contact us at Complete Fire and Pumps
Yours in Fire Safety
Alex
