Sprinkler Maintenance
We have a fire sprinkler system in the common area of our 2 family home. The developer set it up to be easily converted to a 3 family. We want to have someone come take a look because the gauge on the top floor seems to be leaking slightly and also because we were told…
We have a fire sprinkler system in the common area of our 2 family home. The developer set it up to be easily converted to a 3 family. We want to have someone come take a look because the gauge on the top floor seems to be leaking slightly and also because we were told that the caps to the recessed sprinkler heads are not supposed to be painted and we believe they were accidentally.
We also heard that we are supposed to have the system inspected MONTHLY and to keep a log for a 5 year inspection by the fire department.
We are new to all of this. Do others here with a system actually do this monthly inspection?? And can anyone recommend someone who does this and who can also check out the leak and change our sprinkler caps? I called Automatic Sprinkler, but they charge a fortune just to come take a look.
THANK YOU!
@cdiaz1 I’m interested in taking you up on your offer, too. Please email me at agofarkas@gmail.com
Thanks.
@cdiaz1, sure I’ll take you up on your offer. Please email me at mkarplus@yahoo.com. Thanks.
As Brooklyn Plumber said, no monthly inspection for a 2-family. We have a yearly contract with our licensed plumber to do a monthly inspection in our multifamily, but you can take FDNY’s certification test and do the monthly inspections yourself: http://bit.ly/jHx7pr
Annual test has been extended in some cases to 30-month test, but ours (if/when required) is done by our plumber. Appointment for five-year flow test arranged by our plumbers with FDNY.
The monthly inspections and tests need to be done in 3 family or above. If it’s a two family, you don’t have to inspect for the FDNY, just keep the system in proper working condition and have it checked periodically. Unfortunately, the leak is something that most companies won’t come out to check at no charge, but the fee can be waived if the repair is done.
I am a sprinkler mechanic for over 40 years (still working)I can go check your system,tell you what is wrong and what has to be done. I can also have someone contact you about the inspection. If you want to call me I will give my e-mail to you to arrange.
The covers for your recessed heads are very easy to replace, you don’t need to hire a sprinkler fitter, they simply screw into the recess. You can buy them at any good plumbing supply $6 to $8 each if I remember correctly.
Any plumber can fix the leak, it probably only needs tightening and/or new thread tape.
Call FDNY about the inspection requirements or stop at a firehouse and ask. I don’t think monthly inspections are required in a two family but I am not sure.
In my experience (installed sprinkler, Brownstone Co-op) the monthly inspections are random. They can come every month, but rarely do, and will issue citations for anything out of code. We recently had to paint our riser pipes (sprinkler only) fire engine red to comply with these news rules, or get smacked with a $1500 fine. Sprinkler heads should NOT be painted, and need a yearly “test”. I would comply with the Fire Inspector as these precautions are set in place for the safety of us and our loved ones.