Dry Pendent 10 Year Test

[jjmoore73]

Per NFPA-25, After 10 years in service, a sample of dry sprinkler heads are required to be tested by a recognized laboratory acceptable to the AHJ for field service testing. What would be considered a sample. For instance, in a 3 story apartment complex with 30 plus buildings, there may be 1800 dry sidewall sprinklers onsite protecting the unit patios.

Has anyone been involved in 10 year testing of sprinkler heads? How long does the process take? How much does testing cost?

 

[cdafd]

Nfpa 25 2011

5.3.1.2 - A representative sample of sprinklers for testing per 5.3.1.1.1 shall consist of a minimum of not less than four sprinklers or 1 percent of the number of sprinklers per individual sprinkler sample, whichever is greater.


Cannot answer the other questions

Call ul?

http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/...aterials/sprinklersystems/fieldsampletesting/

Of call the manufacture to see if they can refer you to a lab

 

[jjmoore73]

Thank you for the reference.

 

[cdafd]

surprised no one else has typed in, maybe they just replace them or do not do anything

 

[fireguy519345]

As per NFPA 25-2011 Handbook 5.3.1.1.1.6, "the reason for the test is 50% of those dry heads tested, failed the test".

And
"Paragraph 5.3.1.1.1.6 refers to the listed dry-type sprinkler. the requirement does not apply to standard spray sprinklers installed on a dry pipe system."

Now my question is after testing and replacement of the dry head, how do you keep track of the heads tested? Hang a tag from the head? Write on the escutcheon? Write on the ceiling?

 

[LCREP]

Any of what you said but it is up to the building owner to maintain the records see below. Given the cost to replace $150+ for each sprinkler I would think they would not want to go through it again. Also the date stamped on the sprinkler would be different on the sprinklers replaced. When I see dry pendants the 1st question I ask is what the date on the sprinkler. If it is more then 10 years I tell them about the NFPA requirement for testing.

From 2011 Ed of NFPA 25

4.3.1* Records shall be made for all inspections, tests, and main- tenance of the system and its components and shall be made available to the authority having jurisdiction upon request.
4.3.2 Records shall indicate the procedure performed (e.g., inspection, test, or maintenance), the organization that per- formed the work, the results, and the date.
4.3.3* Records shall be maintained by the property owner.

 

[cdafd]

Question though

It is testing after ten years in service

If it is stamped say 2002, put was installed in 2012 would not have to be tested till 2022????

Is that correct?

 

[LCREP]

As per NFPA 25 , been service

5.3.1.1.1.6* Dry sprinklers that have been in service for 10 years shall be replaced or representative samples shall be tested and then retested at 10-year intervals.

 

[fireguy519345]

At 50% failure, it makes sense to start replacing heads at year 7. When year 10 arrives, the heads will be replaced. At year 6, start the cycle again. That is 4 year replacement cycle then, reducing the yearly cost. And if you did the initial replacement, and kept the lengths, you do not have to measure the heads again.

 

[bobinillinois]

Now my question is after testing and replacement of the dry head, how do you keep track of the heads tested? Hang a tag from the head? Write on the escutcheon? Write on the ceiling?

My company diagrams locations where the heads sample heads have been taken from. We then replace them with temporary wet heads. As NFPA states, if any of those representative heads fail they are to be replaced or a second larger test sample is to be submitted for testing or all of the heads represented by that sample are to be replaced. While waiting for the test results to come back we have replacement dry heads fabbed up.

UL provides descriptive labels to identify where the sample heads came from. I've seen some companies hang tags on replacement heads but with a little time creating an accurate map, the replacements are pretty easy to spot.

 

[cdafd]

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