Purpose:

To establish a set of guidelines that provides the minimum testing requirements for fire sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA 13.

Policy:         

1. All fire sprinkler systems installed shall be subject to an acceptance test prior to the occupancy of the building. The Fire Inspector in charge of issuing the Certificate of Occupancy shall witness all or part of this test at his or her discretion.
2. Prior to the acceptance test, the installer is required to have the "stamped and approved" shop drawings at the job site for the inspector to reference.
3. All acceptance testing shall require the assistance of the sprinkler installers for the purpose of operating valves, pumps, etc.
4. For systems that are installed in buildings equipped with a fire alarm system, the inspector may require the installer(s) of the fire alarm system to be present for the purpose of checking the tie-in with the fire alarm system or the on-site repair of water-flow devices, tamper devices, etc.
5. Upon completion of all tests, the sprinkler installer shall provide the following information to the inspector:
   1. Material and Test Certificate for aboveground and belowground piping as applicable.
   2. Test report for fire pump if applicable.
   3. Documentation for UL approved Central Station monitoring
6. The following procedures are ones that are inclusive of acceptance testing and shall be used as a guide in witnessing the tests and ensuring proper installation of the system. As stated in item "A" above, the inspector shall use his or her own discretion in determining which test(s) they want to observe.
   1. Flushing of Piping:

a.       Fire service mains (from the water supply to the system riser) and lead-in connections to system risers shall be completely flushed before connection    is made to sprinkler piping. The flushing operation shall be continued for a sufficient time to ensure thorough cleaning.

2. Hydrostatic Tests:

a.       All piping and attached appurtenances subjected to system working pressure shall be hydrostatically tested at 200 psi and shall maintain that pressure without loss for 2 hours. Loss shall be determined by a drop in gauge pressure or visual leakage. The test pressure shall be read from a gauge located at the low elevation point of the system or portion being tested. 

b.      Piping between the exterior fire department connection and the check valve in the fire department inlet pipe shall be hydrostatically tested in the same manner as the balance of the system.

c.       Provisions shall be made for the proper disposal of water used for flushing or testing.

3. Dry Pipe and Double Interlock System(s) Air Test:

a.       In addition to the standard hydrostatic test, an air pressure leakage test at 40 psi shall be conducted for 24 hours. Any leakage that results in a loss of pressure in excess of 1 ½ psi for the 24 hours shall be corrected.

4. System Operational Tests:

a.       Water-flow detecting devices including the associated alarm circuits shall be flow tested through the inspector's test connection and shall result in an audible alarm on the premises within 5 minutes after such flow begins and until such flow stops.

b.      Upon activation of the initiating device(s), receipt of the correct initiating device signal at the supervising station within 90 seconds shall be verified.  Connection of the transmitter to two separate means of transmission shall be ensured.

c.       All valves controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems and all water-flow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically supervised with the following exceptions:

·        Automatic sprinkler systems protecting one and two family         dwellings.

·        Limited area systems serving fewer than 20 sprinklers.

·        Automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA 13R where a common supply main is used to supply both          domestic and automatic sprinkler systems and a separate shutoff valve for the automatic sprinkler system is not provided.

·        Jockey pump control valves that are sealed or locked in the open         position.

·        Control valves to commercial kitchen hoods, paint spray booths or dip tanks that are sealed or locked in the open position.

·        Valves controlling the fuel supply to fire pump engines that are sealed or locked in the open position.

·        Trim valves to pressure switches in dry, preaction and deluge    sprinkler systems that are sealed or locked in the open position.

d.      Alarm, supervisory and trouble signals shall be distinctly different and shall be automatically transmitted to an approved central station, remote supervising station or proprietary supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72. 

e.       Backflow prevention device test valves, located in limited area sprinkler system supply piping, shall be locked in the open position. In occupancies required to be equipped with a fire alarm system, the backflow preventer valves shall be electrically supervised by a tamper switch installed in accordance with NFPA 72 and separately annunciated.

f.        Approved audible devices shall be connected to every automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler water-flow alarm devices shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. Alarm devices shall be provided on the exterior of the building in an approved location. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building's fire alarm system. 

g.       Approved supervised indicating control valves shall be provided at the point of connection to the riser on each floor in high-rise buildings. 

h.       A working test of the dry pipe valve alone and with a quick-opening device, if installed, shall be made by opening the inspector's test connection. The test shall measure the time to trip the valve and the time for water to be discharged from the inspector's test connection. All times shall be measured from the time the inspector's test connection is completely opened. The results shall be recorded using the contractor's          material and test certificate for aboveground piping.

i.        The automatic operation of a deluge or preaction valve shall be tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The manual and remote control operation, where present, shall also be tested. 

j.        The main drain valve shall be opened and remain open until the system pressure stabilizes. The static and residual pressures shall be recorded on the contractor's test certificate. 

5. Operating Tests:

a.       Each hydrant shall be fully opened and closed under system water pressure, and dry barrel hydrants shall be checked for proper drainage.  Where fire pumps are available, this check shall be done with the pumps running.

b.      All control valves shall be fully closed and opened under system water pressure to ensure proper operation.

c.       Each pressure-reducing valve shall be tested upon completion of installation to ensure proper operation under flow and no-flow conditions. Testing shall verify that the device properly regulates outlet pressure at both maximum and normal inlet pressure conditions. The results of the flow test of each pressure-reducing valve shall be recorded on the contractor's test certificate. The results shall include the static and residual inlet pressures, static and residual outlet pressures, and the flow rate.

d.      The backflow prevention assembly shall be forward flow tested to ensure proper operation. The minimum flow rate shall be the system demand, including hose stream demand where applicable.

e.       The installing contractor shall identify a hydraulically designed sprinkler system with a permanent marked weatherproof metal or rigid plastic sign secured with corrosion-resistant wire, chain, or other approved means.  Such signs shall be placed at the alarm valve, dry pipe valve, preaction valve, or deluge valve supplying the corresponding hydraulically designed area. The sign shall include the following information:

·        Location of the design area or areas

·        Discharge densities over the design area or areas

·        Required flow and residual pressure demand at the base of the riser

·        Occupancy classification or commodity classification and maximum permitted storage height and configuration

·        Hose stream demand included in addition to the sprinkler demand