A lot of fire suppression system parts do not have an indefinite lifespan and are required to be routinely replaced to keep the system fully operating. That’s why fire suppression system maintenance is important. NFPA requirements state that a fire suppression system should have a semi-annual inspection by a certified technician. Having inspections and replacing parts when required, you guarantee that your system is going to operate correctly for detecting and suppressing a fire. The following are some reasons why you should schedule routine inspections of your fire suppression system.
Brutal Settings Take a Toll On Parts
Parts may get damaged as a result of the setting where they sit. Systems and parts in indoor, climate-controlled areas are going to require replacement less frequently than those in brutal settings. Which system is going to require more frequent maintenance: the system on a box truck engine or the system on a CNC machine?
If you guessed the box truck engine, you would be right. The box truck engine is subject to frequent vibrations. These vibrations could cause the detection tube or discharging hoses to rub or scrape, which results in nicks or scratches. Subject to the cylinder mount location and where the box truck operates, the parts can corrode because of salted roads, experience forceful temperature changes, and/or feel stronger vibrations from unpaved roadways. This is all in addition to the general debris and chemicals found in any vehicle.
At the same time, the system that safeguards the CNC machine is in an environment in which the environmental conditions are anticipated and managed. The fire suppression system’s parts are going to likely require less frequent replacement than those of the system safeguarding the box truck.
Risks Of Not Replacing Parts
Impaired parts make fire suppression systems not as effective. A faulty part can cause a system to activate when there is no fire, resulting in a false discharging . On the other hand, a faulty part can also cause delayed activation when there actually is a fire, allowing the fire to get larger prior to the suppression kicking in.
False Discharging
A non-electrified fire suppression system functions without power and activates when the detection tube bursts. Cracking, scraping, or any other damage that is the result of a hole in the tube is going to cause the system to be discharging d no matter if a fire is present or not.
Delayed activation
If something is blocking the detection tube, system activation could have a delay since the tube fails to reach activation temperature as fast. This would give the fire more time to cause damage to expensive equipment.
Discharging Through the Wrong Port
When the tube is impaired by nicks or scrapes, it has a greater risk of failing. In direct release systems, the tube could burst at a failure point and not at the hottest spot in which the fire is. This is going to cause the agent to start discharging in a less than an ideal area to suppress the fire. With indirect release systems, the agent might release through a hole in a detection tube or discharging hose rather than through the diffuser nozzle. This is going to lead to useless flooding of the area to suppress the fire.
Steps To Protect Parts
A well-thought-out system is going to help to safeguard the fire suppression system and its parts. Through bulkheads or grommets when route planning detection tube or discharging hoses through walls is going to shield it from scraping. Reducing loops, elevation variations, and adhering to the suggested turn radius for all parts is going to additionally prevent damage.
Even in a well-thought-out system, parts are going to require replacement. Throughout inspections, the certified technician is going to pay special focus on the detection tube, fittings, and discharging hoses. That’s why fire suppression system maintenance is important.
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