Description of Maintenance
Elite Fire was approached by a Fire Consultant to take over the management of a company’s maintenance of their various fire protection systems.
Elite Fire completed all documentation and met the necessary criteria to become a vendor.
Maintenance of fire protection equipment is an integral part of preventing malfunction in the event of a fire. Each type of fire equipment is required to undergo a service or inspection at different intervals and therefore recruiting a fire protection company to perform this task is of utmost importance.
This particular maintenance client has a fire sprinkler system, hydrants, hose-reels, fire extinguishers and smoke detection that required regular maintenance and inspection.
| Project | Fire protection System Maintenance |
| Year Started | 2022 |
| Scope | Maintenance of Fire protection |
| Discipline | Fire Protection |
Maintenance Scope
Weekly
Inspections are performed to ensure that the sprinkler system is in good working order in the event a fire.
- Check all components of the pump and see that all sprinkler control valves are operational i.e. The pump “kicks in” when required.
- Ensure that the auto start test arrangement pressures are set correctly and that the right pumps “kick in”.
Monthly
This is usually a visual inspection of all fire equipment such as hydrants, hose-reels and fire extinguishers.
Hydrants
Check rubber seals are in place and are not broken. Ensure hand-wheel opens and closes the hydrant with no blockages.
Hose-reels
Inspect the drum to ensure that it rolls out easily and there are no damages to the drum that could cause the hose not to unwind. Inspect the hose for any breakages and ensure the nozzle opens and closes easily.
Fire extinguishers
Ensure that there are no pressure losses, and the needle “is always in the green” in the gauge. Ensure all components of the fire extinguisher is in order. Good practice is to set a reminder for the service date to ensure its annual service is not missed.
Quarterly Service
- Fire detection and suppression
- Inspect smoke/beam detection and to test if they are in good working order.
- A visual inspection of all exposed cabling.
- Cleaning of any dust in and around smoke detector heads, if any, to prevent false alarms.
- Service of gas suppression systems – ensure gas cylinders are working and are at the correct pressure. Ensure the fire panel also has no faults.
Process Outline
Maintenance includes more than inspections and testing of each component. An evaluation of any modifications to any areas protected that may affect the performance of the system:
Process or material changes
Occupancy changes
Building modifications such as additional mezzanines
While the above is taken into consideration, the inspections include the below but is only a partial reflection of the inspection, and not in total due to the high number of components requiring to be listed here as part of inspections.
Alarm Valve: alarm gong operational, valves open/closed, system operational
Deluge Valve: valves locked in correct position, detection panel and system operational
Suction Tanks: Check if valves open, tank is full and ball valve is operational
Annunciator Panel: Check charge rate, bleepers, alarms and external sirens, bells and beacon
Jockey Pump: Check seal for leaks
Jockey Controller Panel: Check manual/auto start, indicator lamp, condition wiring
Jockey Pump Functional Test: Auto start cut in/out pressure, bearing/operating noise
Diesel Pump: Inspect shaft for wear, bearing house reservoir, check gland packaging
Pump House Protection: Check isolating valves, alarm sounds and pump operational
Test Arrangement: Check pressure switches and pressure gauges, valves operational
Service Tags: ASIB approval numbers and service tag numbers
Diesel Engine: Diesel tank level, check engine oil and coolant, inspect shaft for wear
Diesel Controller Panel: Check indication lamps, battery chargers and AC/DC Voltmeters
Diesel Engine Functional Test: Check signals and pressures
Challenges
During weekly maintenance and inspections, we often find that employees or security guards have disconnected the fire pump or isolated sprinkler valves without notifying the fire protection company. This may result in alarms being activated, with an increased risk of malfunction of fire protection equipment putting the client’s property at risk.
