Rank: Forum user 
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All - Help please....
What do I need to do, if anything, to test a sprinkler system?
Background: Retail site in part of a larger complex that has sprinklers intstalled throughout. No pump house, valves, gauges etc in our unit - just pipes and heads.
Approached the centre to ask for evidence of their records of tests etc and they retorted that it is our responsibility! (obviously I need to check the tenancy agreement to see what's what)
Is this the management who don't know what they are doing or is there a test(s) that can be done in invdividual sites?
Thanks
Anthony
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Anthony,
I think you will be expected to carry out periodic testing of the flow switch within your area of control.
I would firstly talk to the centre management and find out what their requirements are and also to a specialist fire servicing company that would carry this out for you.... Alternatively have you got a FM or building services department to sort this out in other buildings?
Interesting to see if this is also in your fire risk assessment which the centre H&S management normally request on an annual basis in large retail centres?
Hope this is of help
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Anthony, if you are certain that there is no control equipment in your tenanted area you cannot and have no need to test anything.
However there are several questions that may be legitimately asked of the Centre Management: What is the procedure if you damage a head? Where is the stop valve and how do you get the flow stopped? Who is responsible for replacing the damaged head and reinstating the fire protection. How can you verify that the sprinkler system is actually operational? How are you informed when the system is out of/back in service? What is the limitation on storage heights for your stocks?
Some of these answers are required so that your fire risk assessment may be completed, others relate to employee/public safety and business continuity and all of them should be of interest to your insurers.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Just to echo David's point;
Find out if it is still actually operational! It's not unknown for these systems to be decommissioned but the pipe-work left in-situ.
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Rank: Super forum user
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In addition to the above, if it is operational and there are no controls within your demise, you'll need to ascertain / request that the relevant routine checks (e.g. flow rate etc.) are carried out in line with manufacturer guidance (the systems we have in our retail stores are tested weekly).
Centre management should also be able to state if the sprinkler system has been installed for life safety (therefore imperative it is added into the Fire Risk Assessment) or for property protection (the fire procedure would therefore not rely on the sprinkler functioning).
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Rank: Super forum user
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If you're not adverse to a bit of snooping, you should be able to find the sprinkler valve work. It will be in a room clearly marked with "Sprinkler Stop Valve Inside" - marked for the benefit of fire officers.
It should be standard practice for this room to contain the test cards upon which the weekly pressure test results are recorded and time taken for the alarm bell to sound. The cards will have been provided by the building insurers normally.
The valve wheels should be strapped and padlocked. The straps are designed to snap if you need to close the valve in an emergency. There should also be stocks of spare sprinkler heads in this room along with a schematic diagram of the sprinkler installation and the various operating pressures.
Do not touch anything or turn any valves.
For multi-tenanted premises such as shopping centres, it is always the responsibility of the centre owner and their appointed contractors to test and maintain the system.
All a tenant is required to do is comply with storage restrictions and not interfere with the sprinkler heads by painting them or hanging items from them.
If you are not happy with the centres responses, you could get your own insurers involved. With sprinkler discounts of up to 65% given on the fire premiums, insurers are keen to ensure the systems will work as expected.
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Rank: Forum user
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Many Thanks All.
Each of you have given me points to consider and action and also have confirmed my thoughts... the centre management need to be a bit more involved and cooperative in the process.
Regards
Anthony
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