General FAQ | Residential General FAQ | Residential Technical FAQ

General FAQ

I need a fire sprinkler system installed. What's involved?

Aside from the logistics of the installation itself, the process would begin with a survey of the building, structure or plans to provide a written proposal and the authorization to proceed. Plans of the system will be generated and a Fire Permit applied for. After rough inspection of the piping and the installation is finished, a final inspection and test of the completed system is performed for the Fire Authority and the system is turned over to the owner after training.

How do I know if the building I'm constructing requires sprinklers?

Usually your Architect or Building Department will make it clear whether you will be required to Install sprinklers. There is no easy answer to this question as there are numerous building codes, construction features and trade-offs, and other factors that will trigger the requirement to install sprinklers. We do not determine why the system is required but provide a compliant system once it becomes necessary.

How do I know if the building I’m constructing will require a fire pump?

The water supply for the system will determine whether a pump will be required. Generally, If the water supply is of adequate capacity and pressure, a pump will not be required for most occupancies. Special systems like hose standpipe systems will almost always require a pump to supply the pressure and flow that the Fire Department will require on the roof of the building. Some large storage and industrial occupancies may require a pump due to the amount of water that will be required to supply the system, even if the pressure available is above average.

How often should my Fire Protection equipment or systems be inspected?

The quick answer is at least once a year for all systems. The more defined answer would be that certain systems like Kitchen Hood Suppression systems, Clean Agent systems and others are required to be tested semi-annually. Fire extinguishers are tagged annually but sometimes have additional inspection requirements based on where they are installed. Different types of systems may also require more frequent inspections based on what they are protecting and Insurance Carrier requirements. Contact us to learn more about your specific requirements.

I have a space that requires my sprinklers to move for a Tenant Improvement. How quickly can I get a permit?

It depends on a few factors. If the space is small enough where less than 20 sprinklers will need to be either moved or added and the occupancy will not be a greater hazard than was there previously, most times a letter to the Fire Authority explaining the specifics is all that is required to procure a permit usually within a day or two. If the work will require moving or adding more than 20 sprinklers, plans will need to be generated, the permit applied for and will take as little as a few days up to 2 weeks, depending on how busy the Authority reviewing the plans are. It should be noted that the complexity of the tenant improvement and the adequacy of the existing system to protect the space will contribute to the time required to generate plans. Design time could be as little as a couple of days to weeks, depending on the project and our schedule at the time of agreement. Adequate time should be planned for when contemplating the schedule of a tenant improvement for the design and permit process. There are rare instances when projects take on an urgency and require immediate action. Contact us with your specific situation to see if we can help.

What is Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC)?

MIC is corrosion influenced by biological organisms or microbes. They attack most alloy products including black, stainless and galvanized steel, copper and ductile iron. An MIC attack on the inside of pipe can occur as early as a few years after installation and is characterized by nodules that form on the wet surfaces of the pipe in either a few places up to all over. Under those nodules, corrosion is taking place, creating a pit that will, over time, create a leak in the pressurized piping. There are methods to overcome MIC corrosion that include a mitigation system along with inspection ports in the piping to monitor the effectiveness of the mitigation process. Contact us if you suspect the constant leaks your system is experiencing is caused by MIC.

When would I need a dry system?

A dry system would be the correct choice if you have a fairly large space that can't be heated and is too large for an antifreeze system. Dry systems are reliable but should be avoided due to the maintenance involved after the system has been installed.

I've heard that antifreeze has been outlawed in fire sprinkler systems because it was found to be flammable. Is this true?

Partially, yes. There have been documented instances where antifreeze discharging from a system actually contributed to the spread of the fire it was meant to contain. This deserves detailed explanation as the likelihood was rare, but the remote possibility does exist. Those documented instances resulted from either poor installation practices or a lack of system maintenance. Historically, fire sprinkler system antifreeze was a liquid compound that had to be mixed with water to attain a proper concentration and specific gravity to achieve a predetermined freeze point temperature. Concentrations could vary from 70% solution to 30% water, to 40% solution to 60% water, depending on the level of freeze protection desired and the type of piping system containing the solution. Several tests were performed with higher concentrations of antifreeze mixed solutions and found that the field reports were accurate. In the interest of public safety, N.F.P.A. took immediate action by imposing a moratorium on the installation of antifreeze as an option until further testing could be performed to provide an alternative resolution. After exhaustive testing by multiple agencies and manufacturers, the N.F.P.A. moratorium was lifted, but with new restrictive guidelines. It is now required to install only a factory pre-mixed solution of antifreeze, taking away any possibility of installer error when mixing solutions. Further, it has been recommended that any owner of a system that has antifreeze have their system checked to make sure it meets the specific gravity requirements of a properly mixed solution. Those systems that meet these requirements do not have to do anything more. Those solutions that do not meet the guidelines are required to be fully replaced with a factory pre-mixed solution. It should be noted that with adequate installation, proper testing and maintenance including antifreeze testing, backflow preventer testing and full system inspections at least annually, your system should remain trouble free and the likelihood of that system becoming a hazard is greatly reduced.

Can you make electrical or alarm connections?

Our company emphasis is on the installation, service and repair of fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, standpipe systems and similar water based systems. We have reciprocal agreements with several quality local companies that will provide this service. Please call for details.

I have a Fire Sprinkler system that needs an inspection. What's involved?

Depending on the kind of system and the occupancy it protects, the inspection consists of a set of criteria established by the National Fire Protection Association (N.F.P.A.) that includes visual inspection, water supply testing and alarm attachment testing, outlined in a report format that will define any deficiencies and what should be done to correct them, if necessary. Our company emphasis is on the installation, service and repair of fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, standpipe systems and similar water based systems. We have reciprocal agreements with several quality local companies that will provide this service. Please call for details.

I have a Fire Alarm system that I need inspected. What's involved?

Fire Alarm systems require professionals in a specialized field. We have reciprocal agreements with several quality local companies that will provide this service. Please call for details.

I have a Fire Pump that I need inspected. What's involved?

Our company emphasis is on the installation, service and repair of fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, standpipe systems and similar water based systems. We have reciprocal agreements with several quality local companies that will provide this service. Please call for details.

I have a Standpipe system that I need inspected. What's involved?

Our company emphasis is on the installation, service and repair of fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, standpipe systems and similar water based systems. We have reciprocal agreements with several quality local companies that will provide this service. Please call for details.

I have a Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression system that I need inspected. What's involved?

Our company emphasis is on the installation, service and repair of fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, standpipe systems and similar water based systems. We have reciprocal agreements with several quality local companies that will provide this service. Please call for details.

I have Fire Extinguishers that I need inspected. What's involved?

Our company emphasis is on the installation, service and repair of fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, standpipe systems and similar water based systems. We have reciprocal agreements with several quality local companies that will provide this service. Please call for details.

I have a Clean Agent system that I need inspected. What's involved?

Our company emphasis is on the installation, service and repair of fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, standpipe systems and similar water based systems. We have reciprocal agreements with several quality local companies that will provide this service. Please call for details.

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Residential General FAQ

What are the advantages of installing a fire sprinkler system in my home?

The objective of any fire sprinkler system is to control or extinguish fire in its early stages while notifying occupants of the fire. It's important to remember that these system's primary goal is to save lives by extending the amount of escape time to allow occupants to exit the structure if it's on fire. A secondary beneficial aspect is that they also save properties from extensive fire damage. The most advantageous aspect of any system is that it saves human lives and pets, a fact that has been supported for years, making residential sprinkler requirements more prevalent.

I have a Fire Sprinkler system in my home. Should I have it checked out?

There is no requirement for homeowners to have a professional inspect your system. It is wise to have the system inspected if you just moved into a home with sprinklers so the technician performing the inspection can assure you it is in proper working condition with all components intact and to instruct you on the operation and shutdown of the system. If it is a new home, the installer is required to provide this information at the time of system commissioning or startup.

How reliable are Fire Sprinkler systems?

Fire sprinklers have been proven over the years to be very reliable and in most cases, when needed, a single sprinkler will usually contain or extinguish a fire in the home. For many, many years, it was a proudly known fact that there has never been a multiple fatality in a sprinklered building when attacked by fire. That statistic held for decades until sadly, a multiple fatality was realized. The systems and materials in use today far exceed the reliability of systems installed as little as 20 years ago. Their piping systems are similar in reliability as most plumbing systems in your home.

I already have smoke detectors – why would I need sprinklers too?

Smoke detectors are essential for early detection and notification to occupants that a fire is occurring, but does nothing to extinguish it. A fire sprinkler system will notify you of a fire occurring and also discharge water right over the near vicinity of the fire, protecting human lives, pets and property. A sprinkler system should never be a replacement for smoke detectors, but as a complement to them.

Is it true that the damage from the water from the system is worse than the fire damage?

This is one of those myths that will just not go away. Absolutely not. The discharge from a typical residential sprinkler is about 15 gallons per minute. Statistically, the fire is extinguished before the Fire Department arrives, saving the home from fire hoses that can discharge in excess of 250 gallons per minute while they try to extinguish a blaze. Left unchecked for any small period of time, an incipient fire can grow exponentially to devour much of a room or residence before the Fire Department arrives.

Will all my sprinklers go off at once?

This is another myth that Hollywood projects in its movies for effect. 95% of fire sprinkler systems are of the type that will only discharge water from sprinklers that open at or near the origin of a fire. Most fires are contained or extinguished with one or two sprinklers. There are systems where all the sprinklers discharge at once, aptly named Deluge systems, but they are used in mostly industrial or aircraft storage occupancies where large quantities of water must be discharged over high heat release fires or fast propagating fires.

Can I hide the sprinklers in my home?

All sprinklers need to develop a spray pattern to be efficient and effective in covering all the living areas in your home. If you have sprinklers, do not try to cover, conceal or obstruct them in any way that will affect the water discharge from the sprinkler, whether it is on the wall or at the ceiling. Hanging objects from or attaching anything to a sprinkler will negatively affect the spray pattern and is prohibited. It is best to treat the sprinklers as though they are invisible and refrain from making any contact with them which could damage them.

Can I paint the sprinklers in my home?

Please don't. The manufacturers of all sprinklers must test their sprinklers to strict Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards and the coating is part of the listing. Painting the sprinklers or concealed covers can change the thermal characteristics of the device and possibly render it ineffective. If any paint is applied other than the finish applied at the factory, the entire sprinkler or cover must be replaced; paint cannot be cleaned or removed in any fashion. In those cases where you may want to conceal sprinklers further from view, customer paint colors can be applied at the factory when the proper paint is supplied and a fee to setup each paint color is invoiced. Stock or standard colors usually come in brass, white, off-white, black and chrome.

How much will it cost to install sprinklers in my home?

This is not an easy question to answer. Costs will vary dramatically based on several factors. It's well known that if you solicit 5 different contractors, you will receive 5 very different and most likely wide ranging costs. When it comes to the objective of the system, all 5 different contractors must meet the same codes and provide the minimum required by those codes. The minimum required by the Codes are all that is needed to provide the level of safety that the Engineering professionals who wrote the codes intended. One system will not work better than the next, unless it is poorly designed, ineffectively installed or installed incomplete. That said, factors that influence the cost of a system include adequacy of the water supply, size and construction of the home, architectural features and local code requirements. Architectural features such as heavy timber construction, vaulted ceilings, beamed ceilings, intricate ceiling profiles, lighting arrangements and heating and ventilation equipment (HVAC) locations can all be factors in the cost of the system. More sprinklers needed to protect these features add to the cost. A poor water supply would necessitate the use of a pump and possibly the addition of a water storage tank, affecting the cost of the system. Local codes also contribute to the cost by, for example, requiring sprinklers in a garage where the Code would otherwise allow sprinklers to be omitted. Typical costs for systems fall in the range between $1.75 per square foot for the very least complicated system (good water supply, flat ceilings, minimal lighting or HVAC obstructions) to as high as $4.00 per square foot for the most challenging installations (custom home with vaulted, beamed ceilings, HVAC soffits, lighting obstructions, poor or no water supply, local code additions). Costs of permits, Inspections, etc. are not included in these figures as they vary greatly. Inquiries are always welcome if you are looking for costs. Please call for details.

Can I save on my homeowners insurance if I have fire sprinklers in my home?

Most carriers will reduce premiums when a certified, inspected system is in service at your residence. It is best to ask them what their actual discount may be and what requirements they may have in order to be eligible for their discount. This is why it is important to choose a contractor with whom you feel confident, that will install the system correctly within manufacturer’s listings and code requirements with professional workmanship.

There are so many different kinds of sprinklers – pendents, uprights, sidewalls, concealed, recessed, dry – which kind is the best?

All sprinklers have been significantly tested to perform equally as well when installed within the manufacturer's guidelines and UL listings. The different types (pendents, uprights, sidewalls) resulted from the different positions needed to protect a defined space or room. Other options resulted from the aesthetic aspects (exposed, recessed, concealed). The simple answer is, the best sprinkler is the one that will protect your space as economically as possible while still meeting your aesthetic needs and the requirements of manufacturers and codes.

What kind of sprinklers should I install in my home?

Your Fire Sprinkler professional at HydroPro can discuss your options that will pertain to what your needs are, how your home will be constructed, how concealed to the naked eye you would like your system to be and what your budget may be. A system can be tailored to any home, no matter how custom or imaginative the construction is. Generally speaking, concealed sprinklers are less obtrusive to the naked eye than recessed sprinklers, but cost more. Pendents are installed in ceilings where piping systems can be installed in the ceiling cavity above. Sidewall sprinklers are installed where piping systems cannot be installed in ceiling cavities (such as in an attic or unheated ceiling space) or where it is more economical to run the piping in the walls. Upright sprinklers are only used where residential sprinklers are not listed for use in certain spaces, such as larger unfinished mechanical or utility rooms.

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Residential Technical FAQ

My system has a small leak – what should I do?

A small leak would be defined as a drip or leak that would not fill an ordinary container or bucket overnight. In this case, contain the leak from damaging carpets or finished floors, locate the systems main control valve and shut it, then call us immediately. You may open the drain and let the system drain, but it's not recommended until we can determine whether your system is filled with antifreeze. Antifreeze is expensive and we will try to recapture and reuse antifreeze that is still of value to save you money, if the leak in your home is small enough to be contained. It is very important that you correct the leak and put the system back in service for your protection.

My system has a huge leak – what should I do?

A huge leak is anything greater than a small leak that will cause significant damage to floors or carpet if left unattended. In this case, try to contain the leak with larger vessels (like a trash can) from damaging carpets or finished floors, locate the systems main control valve and shut it. Depending on the size of the leak, whether you have antifreeze or not, you will want to locate and open the main drain valve to drain as much out of the system as you can before it creates too much damage. If the leak is large enough, take care of securing your system and protecting your belongings from further damage before calling us. It is very important that you correct the leak and put the system back in service for your protection.

I want to install a finished ceiling in my sprinklered home's basement. Will I need to do anything to the sprinklers?

Providing the system was installed to account for the addition of the future ceiling, it may be as simple as providing escutcheons for the existing sprinklers to interface with the new ceiling. In a lot of cases, the system will need to be drained to either change out the sprinkler to the correct type, install an escutcheon or maybe even modify the piping so it can be concealed by the new ceiling. Contact us to discuss what your arrangement is and we can advise you on what your best course of action will be.

I want to finish my sprinklered home’s basement. I will be adding walls and ceilings. Will I need to do anything to the sprinklers?

Unless the system was designed and installed to account for the wall and ceiling additions by placing the sprinklers where they will be needed for the new floor plan, you will most likely have to revise the piping and sprinklers in the basement to accommodate your changes. Contact us to discuss what your arrangement is and we can advise you on what your best course of action will be.

Is it safe to barbeque on my covered balcony if it has a sprinkler?

That is actually one of the primary reasons the sprinkler is there, so the answer is yes, but you have to remember that the sprinkler is a heat responsive device. If you are barbequing directly beneath the sprinkler, whether it is against a wall or under the ceiling sprinkler, there is a danger of fusing the sprinkler and discharging water or antifreeze. Of course, you want to avoid that so a reasonable distance from the sprinkler to avoid having your grill fuse the sprinkler would be at least 6 feet away. Caution should be used by trying to keep the grill as far away from the sprinkler as possible when cooking.

Is antifreeze safe to use in my system?

Yes. The antifreeze used in fire sprinkler systems is considerably different than that used in automobiles and as such, is safe to use in systems connected to potable water supplies. It can be consumed without harmful effects but it is obviously advised to refrain from consuming even small quantities of antifreeze discharging from sprinkler systems. It is not all that uncommon that more unscrupulous contractors have installed automobile antifreeze in systems because it was cheaper than the listed antifreeze required by codes. If this were to be consumed, or leach back into the potable water supply, the results could be catastrophic. Also see the response to the question about whether antifreeze has been outlawed in the General FAQ section for additional information about antifreeze.

One of my bathrooms has a sprinkler in it but the other does not. Why?

The National Fire Protection Association (N.F.P.A.) has done extensive testing and sorted through years of historical fire data to determine where fires are most likely to start in the home. They have used this information to determine where sprinklers will be required and where they can be omitted. There was a balance sought between what was a reasonable level of safety and what the economic impact would be by requiring sprinklers to be installed in those areas where occurrences of fires are small. To achieve that balance, they elected to require bathrooms larger than 55 square feet to require sprinklers, and less than 55 to be exempt due to the low chance that a fire in the smaller room would be less likely to keep an occupant from escaping the home. Chances are your sprinklered bathroom is larger than 55 square feet.

Some of my closets have sprinklers and some do not. Why?

Similar to the answer to the bathroom question above, data suggested that closets less than 24 square feet with the shortest wall shorter than 3 feet are exempt from requiring sprinklers due to the low occurrence of fires starting in these areas. Pantry type closets that are less than 24 square feet but have both walls exceeding 3 feet in width will require sprinklers. Most walk-in closets will require sprinklers when they cannot meet the criteria stated. Any closet over 24 square feet is required to be sprinklered. Your unsprinklered closets probably meet the criteria for sprinkler omission.

Can I still put storage in my attic if it's not sprinklered but the rest of the house is?

The simple answer is yes. The codes are requiring sprinklers to protect all living spaces (key word living) that are intended to be occupied for periods of time, or where a resident or occupant may be spending significant time where they may need to exit for a fire occurrence. People do not spend much time in attics unless they are putting in or removing objects of storage. Therefore, the codes exempted these spaces from requiring sprinklers.

I have well water. Can I install sprinklers in my home?

Yes. In this case, a water storage tank with a domestic pump would be provided to supply the water needed for the system. Generally, a 300 to 400 gallon tank would work for the majority of homes, or the equivalent of ten minutes of water discharge out of two sprinklers to keep a fire in check, allowing sufficient time for the fire department to arrive and continue fighting the fire, if needed.

How much pressure is viewed as good pressure to supply a residential system?

The higher the water pressure from the municipal supply, the better, to an extent. If you have a water supply from the street that is capable of anywhere from 60 to 140 psi, you have an adequate supply to feed your system without additional attachments. There is also a correlation between the size of the water piping coming into the home and the pressure it can provide. Ideally, the lower pressures would require a larger size pipe than the higher end of the scale. Most sprinklered residences with good pressure can supply a home with 1" piping, whereas some custom homes and those with poorer water pressures will need up to a 2" supply pipe. The average size of the water supply piping is 1¼". Water pressures over 150 psi in residential systems will require a pressure reducer to lower the pressure below the working pressure of system components.

What size piping will I need to bring into my home to supply my system?

It really is a matter of how much pressure is available in the street where the water main is and how far it is from that main to inside your home. See the answer to the how much pressure is good pressure for a clearer understanding. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.

What size tap will I need to supply my system?

The tap size should be the same size as the water supply piping going into the residence, however, municipal tapping fees have skyrocketed and make utilizing the larger size taps prohibitive. There are instances where a smaller tap can be used at the main, then upsizing the piping immediately after the tapping valve to prevent too much riction loss. The significant friction loss through the short length of smaller piping and the tapping valve can be overcome by using the larger piping from there into the home. It is also determined by how much pressure is available. Call us to discuss your situation for a resolution.

I've heard that plastic piping is not reliable. Is this true?

Yes and No. There is a plastic piping that has been installed in thousands of homes and buildings called Polybutylene (PB) which is an inferior product and has been recalled. PB has not been installed in buildings for years because of the problems they have had with it. There are still claims being made to get PB replaced in buildings that still have it in them. It is easily identifiable by its gray color and markings. Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) piping, on the other hand, is an extremely reliable thermoplastic product when installed by licensed installers per manufacturers instructions. It has been installed in millions of properties for over 35 years. It has a distinct orange color with superior friction loss characteristics, resists micro-biologically induced corrosion and has a long life span, better than steel piping and equal to copper. Areas with acidic water would necessitate the use of CPVC. It is imperative to choose a contractor with whom you feel confident, that will install the piping correctly within manufacturer's listings and code requirements with professional workmanship.

Is it safe to install CPVC sprinkler piping in my attic?

The answer is yes, if it is installed properly. CPVC piping installed in attics to feed pendent sprinklers below must be protected from both cold temperatures and excessive heat. The highest level of protection for piping to prevent freezing is by using antifreeze, maintained and tested annually, with a layer of insulation on top to protect the piping from excessive attic temperatures. Another common, but in my opinion, not as reliable method is termed "tenting". My opinion is driven by inspecting dozens of properties after the installers have left and the piping has not been properly tented to prevent freezing. This creates a lot of future problems for the homeowner. Tenting is achieved by installing the piping on top of or through the ceiling joists, or on top of the bottom chord of the roof trusses that forms your ceilings below. A layer of plastic or similar material is draped over the piping and stapled to the joists or truss chords to make a "tent" over the piping to keep insulation from coming between the pipe and the heated living space below. Insulation is then installed over the plastic tent. This allows heat from the room below to permeate the ceiling and reach the piping, but the tenting blocks the heat from escaping. Unless this is performed correctly, a frozen and broken sprinkler pipe and the costly damage associated is only a matter of time. Most contractors will exclude the protection of the piping (including us) and leave the tenting and insulating to those not familiar with the requirements. Unless it is inspected by the installer prior to the final inspection, most times it is overlooked. Either the homebuilder or the homeowner will suffer the consequences if it is not planned, executed properly and inspected prior to commissioning the system. Residential dry systems have been recently approved for use and can be installed in unheated spaces and attics but still need to be protected from excessive heat and again, unless the installation is performed correctly, water can be left trapped in piping and freeze. Costs between the various types of systems and methods described can vary widely, so contact us to discuss your best options.

Is it safe to install copper sprinkler piping in my attic?

The answer is yes, if it is installed properly. Copper piping installed in attics to feed pendent sprinklers below must be protected from freezing the same way as CPVC piping (see the response to the CPVC piping in my attic question above) though it does not require protection from excessive attic temperatures. Copper can be installed in an attic without any insulation whatsoever when installed as an antifreeze or dry system. Care in the installation of dry systems must be undertaken to prevent any water from being trapped in the piping after it's drained. In my opinion, copper is more difficult to work with than CPVC plastic (I'm sure there are those that will disagree, just stating my opinion) and can sometimes be cost prohibitive.

My Plumber says PEX tubing is the way to go, that’s what he is using. What do you think?

PEX tubing is cross linked polyethylene tubing that can bend, snake and otherwise go in directions that conventional products like copper and plastic piping cannot. Used in plumbing systems in the U.S. since the 1980’s, it has found a niche in the Fire Sprinkler market and has some advantages. PEX is installed with mechanical type fittings, can be installed in attics without insulation if installed as an antifreeze system and can reduce the number of joints in the system due to its flexibility. It also has excellent freeze characteristics and can flex and expand with temperature variations up to 180°F. Insulation must still be provided for water system piping when installed in unheated spaces. The limitations are the sizes commercially available – some fire sprinkler systems will require piping larger than PEX can provide, or the PEX system would need to be manifolded in order to supply the water needed for fire sprinklers furthest from the water source. Contact us for further information.

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