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Fire Sprinkler Systems: Top Questions Answered from Our Code Red Webinar
During our recent Code Red Virtual Learning Lab on Water-Based Sprinkler Systems, we had a flood of great questions from property managers, maintenance teams, and engineers. The discussion covered everything from wet and dry system inspections to fire pump testing, hydrant requirements, and five-year maintenance rules, and because these are the same questions that often come up in the field, we’ve pulled them together into this FAQ guide.
This isn’t a full replacement for the webinar — the session went into much greater detail, but this is a quick-reference guide you can bookmark and share with your team.
Want to watch the full session? Watch the webinar on-demand here.
Wet Sprinkler Systems
Q: What should I look for on my water gauges?
Every system should have two gauges — one above and one below the check valve. The system pressure should always be higher than the city pressure. If they match, there may be an issue with your check valve or backflow. Gauges must be replaced or calibrated every 5 years.
Q: Are heaters in riser rooms required year-round?
In warmer regions, heaters should remain off during seasonal temperature swings to avoid overheating. In colder climates, turn them on as soon as freezing temps threaten.
Q: What signage is required?
Rigid, engraved plastic or metal signs are required. Control valves, main drains, inspector’s tests, and auxiliary drains all need permanent signage. Handwritten markers don’t meet code.
Q: Can a small drip set off the alarm?
Not usually. Only a steady flow or water contacting a device would cause an alarm.
Q: Will one sprinkler head set off the whole system?
No. Only heads exposed to enough heat will activate.
Dry Systems
Q: How often should we check drum drips?
Weekly or biweekly during temperature swings. Moisture can quickly build up and freeze, causing serious damage.
Q: Should I schedule my 3-year full trip test in winter?
It’s best to wait until warmer weather. Full trips fill the system with water, and draining it in freezing conditions risks freeze damage. Wondering what other testing and maintenance is required for fire sprinkler systems? Download The Ultimate Sprinkler System Maintenance Cheat Sheet.
Fire Pumps & Jockey Pumps
Q: How often should jockey pumps cycle?
Two to three times daily is normal. Frequent cycling suggests leaks or backflow issues.
Q: What’s the required fire pump room temperature?
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- Electric/Diesel pumps: minimum 40°F
- Diesel pumps (without heaters): minimum 70°F
Q: How often should diesel fire pumps run?
They should run weekly for 30 minutes, with oil, antifreeze, cooling, and battery checks.
Fire Hydrants
Q: How much clearance is required around fire hydrants?
Maintain 3 feet of clearance in all directions and 18 inches from the center cap to the ground.
Q: How do I know hydrant flow capacity?
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- Blue = 1500+ GPM
- Green = 1000–1499 GPM
- Orange = 501–999 GPM
- Red = 500 or below
Q: How fast should fire hydrants drain?
Within 60 minutes. If they don’t, add “No Drain” signage – which requires pumping out.
Q: Can anyone open a hydrant to fight a fire?
No. Only trained firefighters or authorized personnel may operate hydrants.
Sprinkler Heads
Q: When do quick response sprinkler heads need testing?
NFPA 25 (2023) extended the requirement from 20 years to 25 years. Testing requires a sample of at least 4 heads or 1% of the system. Heads are sent for UL testing, and if samples fail, all sprinkler heads in that area must be replaced.
Download The Ultimate Sprinkler System Maintenance Cheat Sheet for a quick guide on testing and maintenance requirements for wet, dry, pre-action and deluge fire sprinkler systems.
Q: At what temperature do red bulb sprinkler heads activate?
155°F. Spare heads stored in hot areas must be kept below 100°F.
Five-Year Maintenance
Q: What’s required during a 5-year fire sprinkler inspection?
This is a big one — and one of the most common questions we get!
Because the five-year sprinkler inspection involves so many detailed tests and requirements under NFPA 25, we’ve dedicated an entire blog to it.
Read our full guide to Five-Year Fire Sprinkler Maintenance to learn what’s included, why it matters, and how to stay compliant. You can also download our Fire Sprinkler System Maintenance Cheat Sheet for a quick overview of all five-year requirements.
Keep Learning
This FAQ just scratches the surface of what was covered in the session.
Watch the full webinar on-demand.
Check our upcoming training schedule to join the next Code Red Virtual Learning Lab.
Download our Fire Sprinkler System Maintenance Cheat Sheet for a handy reference.