Fire Protection Maintenance in a Hotel, Gauteng

Description of Project

Elite Fire Protection was contacted to quote and conduct fire protection maintenance at a hotel in Johannesburg.

Hotels have an increased amount of foot traffic, making the functionality of a fire protection system critical. With over 40 floors, multi-storey hotels with inter-connecting floors increase the risk of a fire spreading if they are not equipped with an adequate or fully operational fire protection system.

In our blog this month, we tackled maintenance myths debunked. Regular maintenance of fire protection involves scheduled inspections, testing, and maintenance of fire safety systems to avert potential malfunctions in case of a fire. This entails overseeing fire sprinkler systems (including valves), fire alarms, hose reels, hydrants, and fire extinguishers.

Project Fire Protection Systems  
Size>40 floors 
Scope Maintenance
Discipline Fire Protection   

Project Scope

Maintenance of:

  • Fire Sprinkler System

Process outline

Weekly Inspections

The hotel has provided Elite Fire Protection the opportunity to conduct weekly and monthly inspections with a Service Level Agreement.  

On a weekly basis, the pumphouse is inspected and tested. The hotel has 1 (one) Diesel fire pump available in the pump room which runs for approximately 30 minutes as required by ASIB

Diesel fire pumps play a pivotal role in fire protection sprinkler systems. The diesel pump, powered by a combustion engine, ensures reliability during power outages, offering a resilient backup. On the other hand, electric pumps utilize electrical power for consistent operation. Both serve the critical function of maintaining adequate water pressure to extinguish fires, safeguarding lives, and property.  

Why are Inspections Critical?

Weekly inspections are essential to find faults or corrosion quicker to ensure the longevity of the fire sprinkler system and its functionality during the event of a fire.  

Since accumulating the SLA and commencing weekly inspections, we found that the pressure was fluctuating and needed to be investigated since the system was not installed by Elite Fire Protection. Pressure fluctuations can be due to various reasons:  

  • Leak,  
  • Air trapped in system,  
  • A town’s main bypass not working properly.  

Depending on the reason for the pressure fluctuations, corrective action will be taken.  

If air is trapped in a fire sprinkler system, it can lead to reduced water flow during a fire, increased corrosion within the pipes due to trapped oxygen, potential pressure surges from air pockets, and in extreme cases, even a malfunctioning system where the sprinkler heads might not activate properly, ultimately hindering the fire suppression capabilities of the system. Therefore, proper venting to remove trapped air is crucial for optimal fire sprinkler system performance. 

Findings of Pressure Fluctuations 

Pressure surges (water hammer): 

When water rapidly encounters trapped air pockets, it can cause sudden pressure spikes, potentially damaging pipes and fittings. 

Maintenance Challenges:  

  • No challenges at this stage. All findings have been corrected.