NFPA 25 requires building owners to have a sample of the installed sprinklers tested by a recognized testing lab. Dyne Fire Protection Labs offers free sample kits and 5-business day turnaround on test results for an easy and convenient way to ensure that your sprinklers are staying in compliance.
Dyne Offers
- Free standard size sprinkler sample kits
Standard Sprinkler Kits include free shipping within the contiguous United States (limited free 1-way shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Canada, inquire for details). A kit contains four sprinkler tags, foam packing material with room for four standard size sprinklers, and a return UPS label
- Dry sprinkler sample kits Dry Sprinkler Kits contain packaging, a sprinkler tag, and paperwork for 1 dry sprinkler. Adjustable sized kits available. Handling is as follows for dry sprinkler kits (return shipping is not included and any return shipping charged to Dyne will be added to your invoice). Outbound shipping is also charged for customers outside of the contiguous US.
Small: holds one (1) dry sprinkler up to 20", see the order page for pricing
Large: holds one (1) dry sprinkler up to 21" to 42", see the order page for pricing - Test reports in 5-business days guaranteed
- Rush 1-business day turnaround available, please call ahead
- Online return form (print also available)
- Comprehensive reports
- Laminated Dyne Sprinkler Test Tags
- Link to pictures of sprinklers tested
- Online access to results and forms
- Immediate communication with testing lab staff
What to Test
NFPA 25 Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water Based Systems. 2023 Edition
5.3.1.2
A representative sample of sprinklers for testing in accordance with shall consist of either a minimum of four sprinklers or 1 percent of the number of sprinklers per sample area, whichever is greater.
5.3.1.2.1
Each sprinkler type and manufacturer in the sample area shall be represented in the sample.
5.3.1.2.2
Sprinklers tested shall not include any sprinklers that were replaced at prior testing intervals.
However, NFPA 25 leaves determining sampling environments to the building owner. For example, let’s look at a 20 story building with 200 of the same type of sprinkler on each floor. The building owner could define your sample environment by floor in a 20 story building or they could define the whole building as your environment. In the first example, you would be required to take 4 sprinklers from each floor or 80 sprinklers in total. In the 2nd example, you would be required to take 1% of the whole building or just 40 sprinklers in total. However, consider what NFPA 25 says about sprinklers failing to meet performance requirements: “Where one sprinkler within a representative sample fails to meet the test requirements, all sprinklers within the area represented by that sample shall be replaced.” In the first example, if they had one sprinkler fail on the 1st floor, they would only need to replace that floor’s sprinklers since each floor was represented by a different sampling. In the 2nd example, one sprinkler failure on the 1st floor would require sprinkler replacement for the whole building. A discussion between the building owner and contractor should be had to outline the benefits and draw backs of different sampling sizes.
NFPA 25 Section 5.3.1 Testing Sprinklers, makes the following recommendations for when to either test or replace sprinklers installed in systems.
Dyne tests the response time of the sprinklers to ensure the sprinklers will release in a specified amount of time when exposed to a defined temperature and air flow. The acceptable response time is based on a response time index (RTI). The RTI requirements are listed below. Note that a sprinkler coated with a material for corrosion resistance (wax for example) is allowed extra time as defined in UL 199. The response time of coated standard response sprinkler is 180 seconds or the maximum response time (whichever is greater).
Sprinkler Definitions:
ESFR RTI value less than 50 (meters-seconds)1/2
Fast Response RTI value less than 65 (meters-seconds) 1/2
Standard Response RTI value less than 350 (meters-seconds) 1/2
If the response time does not meet the RTI requirement, the sprinkler response time will be marked as “FAIL”. Failure to meet the RTI requirement may result from, but are not limited to, the following:
Loading
Corrosion
Paint (other than that applied by manufacture)
Missing fluid in glass bulb (if applicable)
Additionally, sprinklers that failed to release due to the release mechanism not activating, the water seal not releasing, or pressure loss not being detected due to a blocked waterway will be marked as “FAIL” on the report. If a sprinkler fails to meet the response requirements as defined above, all sprinklers within the area represented by the failure shall be replaced per NFPA 25 2023 Ed. Section 5.3.1.3.
Dyne will also provide an image of the waterway following the response time test. The image of the sprinkler waterway post-testing can be used to help identify any obstructions that may still impede functionality.
- Procedure based on UL 199 Edition 13 Section 33.2 and NFPA 25 A.5.3.1.1.
- Testing fulfills NFPA 25 2023 Edition 5.3.1.1.
Dyne is accredited for ISO/IEC 17025 - Mechanical Testing of Automatic Field Sprinklers. Dyne is also ISO 9001 Certified.
