Corrosion: The Hidden Risk in Your Sprinkler System

Often times sprinkler systems are installed and all but forgotten. We rely on our systems to exist with next to no keep, but be ready to work in an emergency. But the truth is, you should be investing and maintaining your sprinkler system regularly to ensure that if an emergency ever occurs, your system has the capacity and the ability to do the job you need it to.

A major concern to consider in your sprinkler system’s functioning is corrosion among the piping.

Many automatic sprinkler systems have been installed using steel piping. Steel piping is susceptible to corrosion over time which may cause leaks or failures in these piping systems. Corrosion in the piping system involves the reaction between ferrous metal piping and its environment. In this case, water and oxygen in the steel piping system will cause corrosion inside the pipe over time. Corrosion in fire sprinkler systems can obstruct the flow of water to your sprinkler heads. That means the water isn’t there when you need it to be.

By minimizing one of the variables, the rate of corrosion will be slowed. Slowing the rate of corrosion means extending the life of your system.

A great way to minimize one of these variables is by decreasing the oxygen supply that contributes to the corrosion. Most sprinkler systems do not have high point air vents, which allows trapped air to remain in the piping system. The trapped air supplies the oxygen needed for corrosion to occur. The 2016 Edition of NFPA 13 has recommended the use of air vents to purge air from the piping system, minimizing this corrosion-causing variable. Although the 2016 Edition of NFPA 13 is not yet enforced in Pennsylvania, it can be beneficial to implement this recommendation to your system. After all, the costs of corrosion related repairs later would likely be more expensive than installing high point air vents into your sprinkler piping systems now.

In addition to considering air vents, we recommend monitoring stations and regular condition inspections.

There are corrosion monitoring stations that can be installed into new systems or that can be retrofit into existing systems. These, as well as air vents, should be UL listed for fire protection systems and FM compliant.

Similarly, NFPA 25 recommends that an internal pipe condition inspection be performed on a regular basis. While the frequency of inspection can vary between buildings and locations, the recommended inspection frequency is 5 years. This is unless there is further risk analysis and/or a recommendation for increased or extended frequency.

After 25 years of a sprinkler system being in operation, there is concern that roughly 1/3rd of sprinkler systems will have corrosion issues. Neglect of your sprinkler system can lead not only to damages, but expensive repairs in the future.

If you are a facility owner or manager and you’re unsure of the impact of installing air vents, or the best approach to maintaining your system’s life- we encourage you to follow up with the building insurer, or reach out to us as your consulting engineer. We’re always here to help!

#ProblemSolved: Our Mechanical Engineering team is here to help. Send an email to Andrew Wengerd, PE, CFPS, LEED AP, Senior Engineer at andrew.wengerd@ssmgroup.com or give a call to 610-898-3074