Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Extinguishing Systems

Inspection Frequency and Scope

Weekly visual checks of valve positions and system pressures form the baseline, supplemented by monthly and quarterly function tests of individual components. An annual comprehensive inspection performed by a specialist contractor or a qualified expert, together with multi-year internal inspections of piping and tanks, completes the test cycle.

Typical Inspection Points

Regularly checked items include isolation valves, alarm valves and waterflow pressure switches, correct pump run performance, and corrosion or sediment inside the pipe network. Verifying that actual occupancy still matches the original design basis is also part of a complete inspection.

Boundaries and Insurance Relevance

Unlike impairment management, which governs the controlled shutdown of a system for repair or maintenance work, ITM concerns the fault-free ongoing operation of the system. Without an unbroken, documented inspection history, even a technically well-designed extinguishing system cannot be relied upon in a loss event; property insurers require corresponding inspection records as a standard part of risk assessment.