NFPA 25 covers the inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) of water-based fire protection systems,

including sprinkler systems (water-only and foam-water), standpipe and hose systems, water spray fixed
systems and water mist systems, water tanks, fire pumps, and valves/other components.

Scope:

e.g. a typical sprinkler system includes: a fire service main that provides water supply to the system, a
fire pump to increase/maintain water pressure, a system riser (including control valves, pressure gauges,
alarm check valves or water flow switches, etc.), and finally a system of cross mains and branch lines
connected to sprinklers. Sprinklers activate when a fire heats fusible element beyond a certain
temperature, causing water to be released in a spray pattern to contain and even put out a fire.

Sprinkler systems are subject to corrosion, blockage, mechanical, electrical failure, or human error

A scheduled program of ITM mitigates the risk of these problems

Regular ITM is critical to ensuring successful operation and effectiveness of water-based fire protection

NFPA 25 covers minimum requirements for ITM of water-based fire protection systems, including:

 what needs to be inspected

 how often inspection/testing needs to be performed,
 who should be performing it
 how to properly prepare/keep records of inspection/testing

NFPA 25 does not cover design/installation requirements (that is covered in NFPA 13 for sprinkler
systems, NFPA 20 for fire pumps, NFPA 22 for water tanks, NFPA 24 for private fire service mains, NFPA
15 for water spray fixed systems, among other installation standards)

Structure:

Chapter 1: administration: scope/purpose/application of NFPA 25

Chapter 2: references

Chapter 3: definitions

Chapter 4: general requirements, including responsibilities and records requirements

Chapter 5 through 13 covers ITM for various kinds of fire protection systems

 Chapter 5: sprinkler system (most common system)

 Chapter 6: standpipe/hose systems (installed for firefighting in large or tall buildings)
 Chapter 7: private fire service mains (i.e. those not owned/maintained by municipality)
 Chapter 8: fire pumps
 Chapter 9: water storage tanks
  Chapter 10: water spray fixed systems
 Chapter 11: foam water sprinkler systems (typically to protect extra hazard flammable liquids)
 Chapter 12: water mist systems (typically for marine environments or specialized equipment)
 Chapter 13: common component and valves

Chapter 14: internal piping condition and obstruction investigations

Chapter 15: impairments

Chapter 16: special requirements

Annexes:

 A: explanatory
 B: forms/reports for ITM
 C: fire pump troubleshooting
 D: obstruction investigations
 E: hazard evaluation form
 F: connectivity and data collection
 G: color coded tagging program
 H: information references

NFPA 25 has an associated handbook with additional information

Roles and responsibilities:

Building owner: ultimately the responsible party for conducting ITM, but may delegate so long as
requirements are met

Facility manager: employee of building owner who is delegated ITM responsibilities OR an independent
contractor OR the building owner for a small building/facility

Contractor: typically hired to perform more technical aspects of ITM requirements, such as annual
testing, which are generally beyond the expertise of building owner or facility manager, but in some
cases may be hired to conduct all ITM

Authority having jurisdiction: person/entity enforcing NFPA 25, typically either a representative of a
governmental agency (e.g. building department or fire marshal, with authority to inspect, require
permits, issue fines for noncompliance, and even shut down facilities) or an insurance company
representative (insurance policies typically require compliance with NFPA 25 ITM requirements)

Inspections and record keeping

Inspections/tests are done at different intervals

The results of these inspections/tests should be documented to create a detailed history of the system,
which enables one to spot issues quickly
Water supply inspections/tests ensures water supply valves are in the correct position and water supply
pressure is adequate

Fire pumps inspections are conducted weekly (to start pump and run it for a set period of time), with full
pump flow testing conducted annually involving measurement of flow rates and pressures

Risers must be inspected regularly, and tests performed including:

 Main drain test to verify that water pressure is adequate

 Test of waterflow switch at Inspector’s test connection
 Trip test of a dry pipe system

Sprinklers and standpipe outlets must be inspected for obstructions/leaks/corrosion

NFPA 25 inspections are concerned with the system as it is installed, including basic installation issues
such as sprinkler being installed upside down, but it is not concerned with fundamental design issues
(such as sprinklers being too close too wall)

Inspectors are responsible for identifying normal aging/wear of a system that affects functionality

Inspectors are not responsible for evaluating the appropriateness of a system to the hazards protected,
but they should note any changes (to occupancy hazard, storage, floor plan, etc.) in the building in their
report, so that the building owner can get an engineering evaluation performed

Drone inspections are becoming common for inspections of campus style fire protection systems and
even for inspections of large building sprinkler systems

Typical issues:

 Storage within 18 inches of the sprinkler

 Fire department connections may be obstructed, leaking, or lacking caps
 Sprinklers may be corroded or overly loaded
 Pipes and couplings may be leaking/corroded
 Pumps may be broken or not functioning to specifications

ITM records demonstrate compliance (facility is consistently performing required ITM per NFPA 25), and
indicate how the equipment is operation (i.e. enabling one to track changes in system performance over
time, as well as current effectiveness of equipment operation)

If ITM is not being documented, it is almost certainly not being performed appropriately
ITM records include:

 acceptance tests for initial equipment installation

 inspections reports, e.g. of valves, sprinklers, etc.
 test reports for water supply flow tests, pump flow tests, dry pipe trip tests, etc.
 maintenance reports

NFPA 25 does not mandate any specific format for records, but it does provide minimum required
information (including sample forms with the minimum required info)

 Type of procedure performed (inspection, testing, or maintenance)

 Organization performing work
 Required frequency of the activity
 Results of work
 Date work was performed
 Name/contact information for lead person involved with work (contractor/owner/etc.)

NFPA 25 recommends a section to be completed by the owner detailing any changes in hazard of
contents of the building, and any modifications or actuations of the system, since last inspections

Retention requirements vary

Kept for the life of the system

 As-built installation drawings

 Hydraulic calculations
 Device manufacturer data sheets
 Original acceptance test records

ITM records must be kept for one year after the next required activity (e.g. for an annual sprinkler
inspection completed in 2020, the next activity is 2021, so the records of the 2020 inspections must be
kept for 1 year after the 2021 inspection), though it is generally recommended to keep it longer as
needed (e.g. to track changes in performance for a pump, would be beneficial to maintain annual pump
testing results for the life of the system)

NFPA 25 does provide definitions for frequency of ITM requirements that should be interpreted as
frequency windows (e.g. monthly inspections should be conducted roughly every 30 days, roughly
evenly spaced out, for 12 inspections in a year)

NFPA 25 does not mandate submission of records to the AHJ, but AHJ itself may require ITM records or
impairments be submitted