Sprinklers

[ps]

This is probably easy for you guys again - whats the requirement for inspecting sprinkler systems in a car park underneath domestic flats..?

I know in buildings they require daily and weekly checks and then annual certification - is it the same for car parks (where no one works) and if so - who usually does the daily and weekly ones - is it a contractors job, or someone who can read a dial or two?

Many thanks for use of your brains in advance...PS

[kurnal]

Whats the water supply? Tanks and pumps or mains supply only?

Are the sprinklers there to protect the flats or as a result of a local enactment covering car parks?

[ps]

Water supply for sprinklers is tanks and pumps with a back up diesel generator.

The car park in question is part of the development and is actually underneath the flats. The flats and communal areas also have sprinklers, part of the same system.

There's a contract to service the sprinklers, however the flats and communal areas are done once a year but the car park ones are tested monthly.

Is daily required anywhere?

Also - ther's no requirement for the domestic flats to be signed up to the maintenance contract of the sprinklers!?
If someone doesn't play ball - does that bring the integrity of the whole system into question - or does someone just take the risk in their own flat?

[ps]

Water supply for sprinklers is tanks and pumps with a back up diesel generator.

The car park in question is part of the development and is actually underneath the flats. The flats and communal areas also have sprinklers, part of the same system.

There's a contract to service the sprinklers, however the flats and communal areas are done once a year but the car park ones are tested monthly.

Is daily required anywhere?

Also - ther's no requirement for the domestic flats to be signed up to the maintenance contract of the sprinklers!?
If someone doesn't play ball - does that bring the integrity of the whole system into question - or does someone just take the risk in their own flat?

[CivvyFSO]

From EN 12845;

There is no daily maintenance regime required.

Requirements are; Weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, 10 yearly.

If the flats are part of the main system, then much of the required servicing will be done in the sprinkler valve and generator room, although the actual sprinkler heads should be cleaned quarterly according to the EN which would require access to the flats. (This is all assuming that it is not a residential sprinkler system.)

[jokar]

Thats always assuming that the system is an EN one and not a BS 5306 part 2 system.

[kurnal]

Hi PS sorry for overlooking the reply to your post.

The sprinkler systems will typically  need weekly tests and maintenance, six monthly service for the diesel pump and annual service of the alarm valves.

The weekly test on the alarm valve installation involves opening the test valve and timing hw long it takes to achieve a continuous ring of the gong. The gauge pressures are recorded. You will probably have two alarm valve installations. On annual service the valves are dismantled and cleaned.

In the pump house the weekly test will involve - for the electric pump and jockey pumps - opening the test valve and measuring and recording  the pressure at which the pump cuts in. Also check water tank contents, any heating arrangements to avoid freezing.

The diesel pump will need its oil, cooling, battery and fuel levels checking,  cut in pressure recording by opening the test valve and then a weekly engine run of at least 20 minutes. It is vital that this is done against an open delivery - feeding water back into the tanks otherwise cavitation damage can result. There will be a test manifold to enable this to be done. Six month engine service will be required and annual full pump flow testing carried out.

This is a very brief summary,If you would like further detailed information dont hesitate to give me a call.

[ps]

Thanks guys - if this is an easy question - what's the difference between and EN system and  BS system?

The common areas, the flats and the car park seem to be part of the same system... therefore if some of the heads are in the flats - does that make it a residential system, therefore meaning they would be required to be cleaned quaterly in the flats? If residents don't play ball and say "no" how does this affect the rest of the system? These are privately owned flats for there are no landlord obligations.

For the weekly test, is this something a caretaker (with training) could provide, or is it a sprinkler engineers job?

At the moment, the company responsible are just saying that the car park ones only meet monthly visits, but the residential once a year - so its not adding up?


Thoughts as always much appreciated!

[kurnal]

In broad terms the BSEN12845 is simply the current standard that has replaced the BS5306. The old system you describe will be to BS5306 - its most unlikely that the flats are a residential system as BS9251 was produced in 2005.

although the BSEN recommends cleaning heads every 13 weeks I have never ever encountered anywhere where this is done. But am always pleased to be corrected.

I have trained maintenance/ handyman  staff on several sites to carry out the weekly tests provided the site has the full spec of the system available on which to base the training- otherwise a number of companies offer this service. Its not difficult or technical work provided the candidates have reasonable mechanical aptitude, diligence and the ability to interpret and diagnose problems when things dont go as expected.

[ps]

fantastic - thank guys!