Industrial Dry Chemical Fire Suppression System Inspections

Semi-Annual Inspection & Maintenance

"A trained person who has undergone the instructions necessary to perform the maintenance and recharge service reliably and has the applicable manufacturer's listed installation manual and service bulletins shall service the wet chemical fire-extinguishing system 6 months apart...and shall include the following:

(1) A check to see that the hazard has not changed.
(2) An examination of all detectors, the expellant gas container(s), the agent cylinder(s), releasing devices, piping, hose assemblies, nozzles, signals, all auxiliary equipment, and the liquid level of all non-pressurized wet chemical containers.
(3) Verification that the agent distribution piping is not obstructed.
(4) Examination of the dry chemical (If there is evidence of caking, the dry chemical shall be discarded and the system shall be recharged in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.)… Dry chemical in stored pressure systems shall not require semiannual examination but shall be examined at least every 6 years.

The maintenance report, with recommendations, if any, shall be filed with the owner or with the designated party responsible for the system. Each wet chemical system shall have a tag or label securely attached, indicating the month and year the maintenance is performed and identifying the person performing the service. Only the current tag or label shall remain in place." - NFPA 17 - 11.3 – Maintenance

Owner’s Inspection

On a monthly basis, inspection shall be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s listed installation and maintenance manual or owner’s manual… and shall include verification of the following:

(1) The extinguishing system is in its proper location.
(2) The manual actuators are unobstructed.
(3) The tamper indicators and seals are intact.
(4) The maintenance tag or certificate is in place.
(5) The system shows no physical damage or condition that might prevent operation.
(6) The pressure gauge(s), if provided, is in operable range.
(7) The nozzle blowoff caps, where provided, are intact and undamaged.
(8) Neither the protected equipment nor the hazard has been replaced, modified, or relocated.

If any deficiencies are found, appropriate corrective action shall be taken immediately.  Personnel making inspections shall keep records for those extinguishing systems that were found to require corrective actions.  The date the inspection is performed and the initials of the person performing the inspection shall be recorded. The records shall be retained until the next semiannual maintenance. – NFPA 17 – 11.2 – Owner’s Inspection

Our technicians are factory trained and certified by Ansul, Pyro-Chem, Amerex and Kidde.