Automatic sprinklers

In industrial facilities, more and more buildings have automatic sprinkler system. Your facility may already have one. Automatic sprinkler systems, when properly designed and maintained, increase your fire safety significantly. Sprinklers can control and even completely put out the start of a fire, while limiting the damages caused either by the fire or the water used by firefighters to put out the fire.

To ensure your facility is properly protected by the automatic sprinkler system, no obstacle should keep the jets of water from reaching the fire. Make sure sprinkler heads are free from any obstruction, including boxes, beams, scaffolds, ventilation ducts or goods in storage near the sprinkler heads. 

Maintenance

Automatic sprinklers can be a major help as long as they have an adequate water supply. The faucet which supplies them from the source (whether municipal or a private reservoir) must be monitored constantly to ensure that it is completely open at all times. This faucet and secondary faucets can be monitored using electronic components. You can also lock the faucets to keep anyone from shutting them off. 

You will need to contact a specialized contractor to perform the routine inspections and tests required by municipal legislation. During this maintenance and inspection visit, the contractor will perform tests to make sure your automatic sprinkler system is fully functional and compliant. The contractor will provide you with an inspection report that could contain a list of defective or non-compliant items. It is very important that you address these repairs immediately to make your system effective and fully functional.

Fire hydrants

Fire hydrants on site

A large quantity of water is needed to fight a fire. Firefighters will obtain this water from fire hyfrants near your building. These fire hydrants, if they belong to you, must be clearly identified so that firefighters can find them quickly. Fire hydrants, whether they are public (municipal) or private (yours) must be properly maintained and easily accessible by firefighters at all times. Obviously, you are in charge of maintaining, testing and ensuring the accessibility of fire hydrants that belong to your facility. The municipality will identify and make available all hydrants under its jurisdiction. 

Fire hydrant maintenance

Here again, the services of a specialized contractor are required to perform tests and maintance on your fire hydrants. The contractor will perform tests to make sure your hydrants fully functional and compliant. The contractor will provide you with an inspection report that could contain a list of defective or non-compliant items. It is very important that you address these repairs immediately to ensure your equipment is effective and fully functional.

Hose connectors

Hose connectors on site

In a fire, fire protection equipment in your building that uses water must be supplied by firefighters. They will use hose connectors to connect to your fire protection equipment. Hose connectors are installed on one or several sides of your building. Their location should be indicated by signs that are visible from the street so that firefighters can find them easily and hook up to them quickly. You must also make sure they are free of any form of obstruction (containers, vehicles, storage pallets, recycling bins, mesh cabinets, etc.) and leave plenty of space so that firefighters can get around them easily. 

Hose connector maintenance

Plugs or covers are usually installed at the end of hose connectors to prevent the accumulation of debris or other objects that could clog or obstruct the pipe that connects firefighters to your fire protection equipment. If they are missing, you must replace them immediately. 

Your building may have several pieces of fire protection equipment that require water. Each of them needs its own hose connector. It is also important to place signs over each hose connector to indicate the equipment with which it is used.