Description of Project
Elite Fire Protection was previously contacted to quote and conduct fire protection maintenance at a shopping mall in Heidelberg.
In our blog this month, we tackled maintenance in shopping malls and the importance thereof.
Shopping malls have an increased number of foot traffic, making the functionality of a fire protection system critical. Multi-storey malls 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.
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), smoke detectors, fire alarms, hose reels, hydrants, and fire extinguishers.
Project | Fire Protection Systems |
Size | 35000m2 |
Scope | Maintenance |
Discipline | Fire Protection |
PROJECT SCOPE
Maintenance of:
- Smoke Detection system,
- Fire Pumps (diesel and electrical),
- Sprinkler Control Valves,
- Handheld fire equipment
- Fire extinguishers,
- Hose reels,
- Hydrants.
PROCESS OUTLINE
Smoke Detection
The primary objective of the smoke/fire detection system is to continually monitor for the existence of a fire, providing timely alerts and enabling manual or automatic control actions to mitigate the risk of fire escalation. This aims to reduce the likelihood of people being exposed to potential hazards and minimize the probability of a fire condition developing and intensifying.
The client has a smoke detection system with 2 (two) fire detection panels that needed to be serviced.
Ensuring a consistent fire detection service every six months guarantees dependable functionality, identifies possible issues, and strengthens early detection capabilities. This minimizes risks and effectively safeguards lives and property.
Fire Pumps
The mall has 2 (two) fire pumps available in the pump room, 1 diesel and 1 electric fire pump.
In shopping malls, the presence of two pumps is obligatory, as any establishment categorized under life safety standards necessitates the installation of two pumps.
Diesel and electric fire pumps play pivotal roles 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. Their synergy provides a solution to address diverse scenarios and enhancing the efficiency of fire protection systems.
- Flow of cooling water
- Diesel engine restarting test

Sprinkler Control Valves
Sprinkler Control Valves
Sprinkler control valves control the flow of water in an automatic fire sprinkler system. Due to the size of the building, the client’s fire sprinkler system has a total of 6 (six) valves to enable the system to function.
Routine inspections for installation control valves, also referred to as sprinkler control valves, must be conducted weekly at intervals not exceeding 7 days. These inspections involve, but are not restricted to, verifying that the valve chamber is clean and orderly, and ensuring various components align with the checklist by being either open or closed as required.
Additionally, a valve service or overhaul for sprinkler control valves should be carried out every 3 years.
Handheld Fire Equipment
Fire Extinguishers
Different categories of fire extinguishers are accessible within South Africa. Monthly inspections of these fire extinguishers typically entail ensuring their visibility and accessibility, confirming they haven’t been tampered with, checking that the pressure gauges show green, and ensuring the next service date and operating instructions are facing outward.

Hose Reels
Monthly inspections of hose reels are conducted to verify the following:
- The hose reel is visible, unobstructed & its dedicated location.
- Check the hose reel for evidence of damage, corrosion, faults & obstruction.
- Look for evidence of obvious leakage in the surrounding area.
- Check condition of frame, hose & stop cock.
- Ensure the drum assembly is free to rotate as required.

Fire Hydrants
A fire hydrant serves as a connection point utilized by firefighters to directly access piped main supplies or water sources for supplementing their emergency water tanks. Strategically positioned along roads, streets, and workplaces, fire hydrants are often highlighted for visibility to both the public and firefighters.
Monthly inspections include:
- Confirm the hydrant is free from obstruction.
- Check lip & valve seal, and hand wheel.
- Check booster is free from obstruction.

Maintenance Challenges:
- Due to high foot traffic, hydrants are often a victim of tampering. Cigarette buds are a common find.
- Access to certain areas if faults are found anywhere during an inspection is generally determined by the shop, not the Centre.
- In general, staff are not commonly trained on fire escape routes in order to assist customers.