Many commercial and industrial buildings may have fire sprinkler systems — whether OSHA requires them or not. In cases where the sprinkler system isn’t required, the building manager doesn’t have to meet the specifications outlined by OSHA.
However, there are many situations where a sprinkler system is necessary. In these cases, it can be helpful to know the restrictions and regulations so you can avoid common violations.
Schedule Annual Inspections for Your Fire Sprinkler Systems
The most important OSHA regulation to follow is to ensure your sprinkler system undergoes an annual inspection. The inspector will check to ensure that the equipment is functioning properly. They will look for physical damage that could affect the sprinklers’ operation.
Additionally, they will check the flow of water to make sure the system will work well in an emergency. Your system should provide a minimum of 30 minutes of uninterrupted water flow during the test.
Avoid Blocking the Sprinklers
It’s not uncommon to accidentally block access to a fire extinguisher or sprinkler unit in your commercial or industrial building. An employee might temporarily move tall furniture or stack boxes in an area, forgetting to put everything back in its proper place. This could lead to an OSHA violation and — more importantly — interfere with the sprinkler’s operation.
Each sprinkler should be free from obstructions to ensure it can properly dowse the area with water during a fire. To meet this need, OSHA requires that a space of 18 inches below the sprinklers remain free of materials. This includes furnishings, stacked items, and ladders.
Be Careful Not to Coat or Cover Sprinklers
During a sprinkler and fire extinguisher inspection in NJ, the inspector will look for indications that the sprinklers won’t operate properly. A careless contractor may have covered your sprinklers with paint or a liquid sealant. In these instances, that paint or sealant blocks the ports in the sprinkler and keeps them from releasing water.
When renovating your building, you should discuss this concern with contractors and your own employees. Most professional contractors will know to protect the sprinklers, but you can’t be too cautious. Otherwise, you’ll face the cost of replacing your sprinklers in addition to the fines you’ll pay for violating OSHA’s regulations.
Watch for Corrosion
When you purchase a fire extinguisher in New Jersey, you’re getting a self-contained fire suppression tool. However, a sprinkler system works in conjunction with your building’s plumbing system.
This makes it necessary to keep up with the facility’s plumbing needs. A corroded pipe could lead to a leak and a disconnected water supply in an emergency.
To avoid that problem, you should routinely check for corrosion around the pipes that connect to your sprinkler system. A yearly inspection from your plumbing contractor can help you catch problems early. As a result, you’ll save on more expensive repairs and avoid unsatisfactory sprinkler system inspections.
Never Hang Anything from the Sprinklers
It might not seem like a big deal to hang clothes or other items from your sprinklers, but this creates problems. For instance, you’ll block the sprinkler and inhibit its operation if a fire does break out.
This is also an OSHA violation that could cost a significant amount in penalties. The extra weight can additionally place more pressure on the sprinklers, causing damage that you’ll have to pay to repair.
It’s easier and far less expensive to install extra hooks where there’s space for them. You’ll avoid OSHA violations and keep your work areas neater in the process.
Ask Instead of Guessing
It’s important to keep up with OSHA’s guidelines since they may change from year to year. In addition, you should bring any questions or concerns to an OSHA representative.
Otherwise, you might not meet the correct compliance standards, and that could expose your business to fines and other penalties. It’s always better to ask first and avoid costly violations down the road.
