Ultrasonic Testing

Fire Suppression System Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic testing offers a less invasive, more cost-effective testing method that can be used during inspections or as a routine maintenance check on your fire suppression systems. There is no shutdown time, it is non-destructive, and system drainage is not required.

According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), recent trends show commercial building fires are up 26% in the last 10 years resulting in over 100,000 fires in 2018 alone.

Proper testing and inspections are vital to maintaining the safety and functionality of full-function fire alarm systems, automatic fire sprinkler systems, and suppression systems in the event of a fire. When these systems are properly maintained they are extremely effective in eliminating and extinguishing elements of fire, as well as notifying occupants of emergency situations.

Ultrasonic testing provides a more thorough inspection with improved identification of current system conditions and corrosion trends. The benefits of Ultrasonic testing include:

• No shutdown or drainage required
  • Water Conservation (750 to several thousand gallons of water is wasted during the drain down and refill process of a five-year inspection.)
• No interference with building operations
• Highly cost-effective in comparison to cutting out samples
• Results based upon multiple test locations rather than a few isolated areas
• Identify trends in corrosion rate within any piping system
• Non-destructive, non-intrusive, safe procedure
• Improve overall system reliability and extend pipe life
• No need to cut into your existing sprinkler system pipes to inspect
• Broaden the Inspection coverage of the existing pipe
• Quicky monitors the state of corrosion in the system to allow for prevention and planning (budgeting for potential repairs when needed)

If Ultrasonic testing reveals corrosive problems within a sprinkler system, resolution recommendations to restore the reliability and longevity of your system can be made with confidence. Including these potential steps:

• Wet Pipe Air Venting
• Nitrogen Generators (Nitrogen helps slow the corrosion process)
• Replace existing corroded pipe with a better pipe, only where needed
• Sample testing of the water in the systems

What causes fire sprinkler system corrosion?

Corrosion is one of the most common causes of fire sprinkler system malfunction or failure. Oxidation of the metal inside the piping of the fire sprinkler system creates solid masses that corrode. Corrosion can present itself in both wet and dry pipe sprinkler systems and both galvanized and steel piping.

Corrosion is typically not visible from the outside and can go unnoticed until the time of catastrophic failure. Once corrosion starts, it can cost thousands of dollars in repairs.

Tips to minimize corrosion in your fire sprinkler system

Although you cannot eliminate 100% of corrosion in your fire sprinkler system, there are steps that can reduce the amount of corrosion in your system.

• High-Quality Pipe Material: Materials such as CPVC, galvanized steel, and copper are more corrosion resistant than standard pipe materials. Increasing the thickness of the pipe as well prolongs rusting through. Higher quality does mean more upfront out-of-pocket expense, but it will extend the life of the fire sprinkler system and reliability.
• Wet Pipe Air Venting: NFPA 13 requires a vent to be located at a high point in the system to allow air to be removed by either a manual or automatic valve. This can be a reasonable approach to wet pipe sprinkler systems to reduce corrosion activity. The purpose of the air venting valve is to exhaust as much trapped air as possible from a single location every time the system is filled, thus having less oxygen for the metal to react with.
• Dry Pipe Nitrogen: For dry pipe or pre-action systems nitrogen can be used to fill the sprinkler piping network instead of air. When a system is filled with nitrogen it contains very little oxygen, which is a vital ingredient in the corrosion process. Nitrogen can be provided through cylinders or a nitrogen generator.

How an Ultrasonic Inspection Can Help

Ultrasonic testing from Fire Safe allows the fire sprinkler system pipe wall to be externally tested to determine the extent of any deterioration from corrosion or any other breakdown in the integrity of the pipe wall. Ultrasonic inspection benefits:

• Maps out critical areas that need to be addressed before pinhole leaks or failure occur.
• Budget for less critical piping identified to develop a phase replacement plan that allows you to forecast and budget cost.
• Identifies areas that still have system life and do not need to be replaced.

Fire Safe Protection Services can conduct internal or external pipe Ultrasonic Testing inspections to keep your facility in compliance with code and reduce liability by catching early signs and characteristics of corrosion. We offer ultrasonic testing, which will provide full wet and dry fire sprinkler pipe scans to examine entire systems, corrosion, and pipe thickness. Testing can usually be accomplished during normal working hours. Contact us to set up a time for a free consultation.