Sprinkler Valve Inspections
Sprinkler valves are an important part of a fire protection system that controls the pressure and flow rate of the water supply.
You want to make sure that your sprinkler valves are in good working order because you never know when a fire will occur and water will be needed to ensure that the fire does not spread any further. Regular inspections can help maintain your sprinkler valve systems, identify any deficiencies and ensure they are functional.Here are some things you should look for during your sprinkler valve inspections:
- Water pressure - document in PSI or kPA. You want to make sure that the sprinkler valves have sufficient pressure to reach and extinguish a fire if required.
- Position of the valves – are they positioned in normal open/closed state?
- Accessibility - are the valves easily accessible? Are there any obstructions near the valves?
- Condition - are the valves in good condition? Is there any physical damage present?
- Leaks - are there any external or internal water leaks?
- Labels - are the valves labeled properly? Do you know which valves are located where and what systems/areas they control?
- Are the valves sealed, locked or supervised correctly?
To ensure your sprinkler valves are operational, complete visual inspections regularly. Be sure to document and store your inspection records in an organized manner that is easily accessible.
How can digitization help you manage your sprinkler valve inspections?
- Documented records of your sprinkler valve inspections that are easily accessible and demonstrate your due diligence
- Property dashboards to see an overview of your inspections, including if any locations are near-due or have been missed
- Automatic reporting; responsible stakeholders are informed of any deficiencies or missed inspections, ensuring expedition of any issues
- Reduction of false-reporting; digital solutions contain tailored information relevant to each sprinkler valve. This helps inspectors to know they are inspecting the right location and reduces false-reporting
- On-the-spot guidance for inspectors; since the information is tailored to each sprinkler valve, digital solutions can provide on-the-spot guidance and checklists so inspectors know what to look for including what an open valve looks like vs a closed valve, what the corresponding gauges should look like, and what the appropriate level for building riser pressure should be
- Ability to add detailed notes and photos
- Analytics can help you forecast where resources are needed through the ability to see analytics and trends
Before going digital, one of our clients had staff members carry around printed instruction booklets in their pockets to help them understand what an open valve looks like vs a closed valve, what the corresponding gauges should look like, and what the appropriate level for building riser pressure should be. With over 200+ sprinkler valves in the facility, not all gauges looked the same and their position varied so it was difficult to train staff members to understand these nuances.
After going digital, the inspectors received specific instructions tailored to that specific sprinkler valve, including what gauge to look at and document pressures for. This on-the-spot guidance helped to ensure that the inspections were done properly and removed human error by ensuring that the inspector wasn’t mixing up the sprinkler valve locations. This guidance was beneficial for both existing and new staff members.
Managers were also kept in the loop if any sprinkler valves were accidentally missed. They also had the ability to see trends like which systems were going up in pressure and which valves kept leaking, assisting with future forecasting and budgeting. Managers became equipped with the information they needed in order to make informed decisions about what needed to be fixed and when.
For more information on how to streamline your sprinkler valve inspections, contact us at customerservice@tapreport.io.