Answers To Common Questions

A quarterly sprinkler inspection is your regular check-in to make sure the system is ready if you ever need it.

Our inspector shows up at a previously scheduled time, heads to your sprinkler riser area, and walks through the system to confirm everything is operating as it should. If your sprinkler system is tied into a fire alarm panel, we silence the interior alarms so we don’t disrupt the building, then verify the flow alarms, visual strobes, and audible horns all trigger correctly.

We check valves, gauges, and general condition.

The whole thing is straightforward, but it’s the kind of thing you only know is working because somebody checks it four times a year.

Investing in a fire safety system is a crucial step for any property when it comes to safety. These systems act as a critical defense line, reducing the catastrophic consequences of a fire. 

These systems need to be inspected and installed each year, which can be time-consuming. Both projects have varying timelines depending on the size and type of job needed. 

In this article, we will discuss how we schedule your fire safety system project and what you can expect for a timeline. 

How Far Out Are You Scheduling Inspections and Installations?

For a new installation, it could take quite a few weeks before the project can start. Before we can step on site, several processes exist, such as design and permitting through the state or local municipality. The permitting process can take anywhere from a week to three weeks, depending on the workload of the authorities. 

• We average scheduling fire sprinkler system inspections a week out. 
• We average scheduling new installations up to four weeks out or more. 

24/7 Emergency Service

In the case of an emergency, we offer a 24/7 service should a fire or other incident occur and can be onsite that day.

Our Commitment to Keeping You Informed

We understand that timelines are a major consideration in any project. We prioritize our customer’s needs above all else. 

Whether we’re working with a residential customer or a larger general contractor, we work closely with them to schedule any necessary work. 

Despite dealing with inconsistent timelines based on codes and standards, we value clear and consistent communication to ensure that all parties are on the same page and that the project progresses smoothly.

At Maine Fire Protection Systems, you can trust that we will keep you informed every step of the way, from scheduling to arrival times. 

At Maine Fire Protection Systems, we understand that our customers want easy access to their inspection reports. That’s why we’ve made it simple for you to access your reports through our website.

There are two ways to access your inspection reports. 

1. The first way is to go to our website and look for the link that will take you to our inspection software host. Once you are redirected to the inspection software, you will be prompted to enter your unique username and password. After logging in, you can easily access all of your inspection reports.

1. The second way to access your inspection reports is through an emailed link. After your inspection is completed and uploaded, you will receive an email with a link that directly takes you to your inspection report. This link is secure and only accessible to you, so you don’t have to worry about anyone else accessing your inspection reports.

We take pride in the accuracy and thoroughness of our inspection reports. Our team of experts uses state-of-the-art technology and equipment to ensure your fire protection system is functioning optimally. Our inspection reports include detailed information about any issues identified during the inspection and recommended actions to take to address those issues.

Customer Support and Prompt Delivery of Inspection Reports

Transparency and communication are essential to building customer trust. That’s why we encourage you to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your inspection report. Our team is always available to answer your questions and provide support.

We work efficiently to ensure you receive your inspection report as soon as possible, so you can take action quickly if needed. 

To learn more about our inspection services and how we can help you keep your property and its occupants safe, give our Maine team a call today.

The sprinkler system is thoroughly checked to ensure it functions correctly and any necessary repairs are identified during an inspection. Once the inspection is complete, you will receive a report about the integrity of your sprinkler system. 

One important aspect of an inspection report is using red and yellow tags. 

These tags indicate items that require attention, but what do they mean? This blog will examine the difference between red and yellow tags and why they are important.

Red Tag

A red tag on a sprinkler inspection report requires immediate attention. It is an emergency, and if left unaddressed, it can prevent your system from operating correctly in the event of a fire. The red tag indicates an impediment to your system functioning correctly, and it must be repaired as soon as possible.

Some examples of items that may receive a red tag include: 

• damaged or missing sprinkler heads
• obstructed sprinklers
• broken pipes 

If you receive a red tag on your inspection report, it is critical to address it immediately to ensure the safety of your building and its occupants.

Yellow Tag

A yellow tag differs from a red one because it does not require immediate attention but must be addressed. The yellow tag indicates a violation of a standard or something that needs to be done down the road. 

Some examples of items that may receive a yellow tag include: 

• missing or inadequate signage 
• storage too close to sprinklers 
• outdated system documentation 

If you receive a yellow tag on your inspection report, you should address it at your earliest convenience to avoid any potential issues in the future.

Why are Red and Yellow Tags Important?

Red and yellow tags indicate items needing immediate attention versus those that can be addressed later. Not only do they help us prioritize repairs, but they also ensure that critical issues are dealt with before minor ones.

These tags are crucial for keeping your property and its occupants safe. Inspectors use state-adopted codes and standards as the basis for their inspections. Any violations can result in fines or penalties. By promptly addressing red and yellow tags, you can ensure your system is up to code and avoid potential legal issues.

To learn more about the specifics of these tests and to schedule your next fire safety systems inspection, give our Maine team a call today.

Because the State of Maine requires it. Sprinkler inspections and testing are governed by NFPA 25, which the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office has adopted as the standard for all water-based fire suppression systems.

That standard sets the quarterly cadence, and every building owner with a sprinkler system is bound by it. Maine is a little unusual here. Most states leave fire code authority to the county or city, but we have a central authority at the state level, so everyone in Maine falls under the same standard.

A handful of cities add their own requirements on top, but that’s rare.

Yes. Everything falls under NFPA 25. The quarterly inspection is just one piece.

Depending on what kind of system you have, wet, dry, preaction, or one of the preaction variants, NFPA 25 also lays out the three-year and five-year testing requirements. Each system type has its own specific protocol. We follow what the standard requires for the system you have on site.

Call the office.

We keep copies on file and can email a scan over right away. We’re in the middle of transitioning to a digital customer portal, and once that’s fully live you’ll be able to pull your own reports anytime you want them. In the meantime, a quick call gets you what you need. 

Quarterly sprinkler, and annual Fire alarm inspection reports are all on building reports, all customers should have a login to access there reports off of our website.  If you do not know your login you can email or call the office and they can reset your log in.  

No. If you’ve lost a copy or need one resent, we scan and email it at no charge. Once the customer portal is live, you’ll be able to pull it yourself without even making the call.

Same place as your other inspection reports. You should have it in your email from when it was completed. If you can’t find it, call the office and we’ll resend it. Once your customer portal is active, it’ll be available there as well.

The prior records would live with whichever company did the work, so you’d want to request them from that company directly. Under NFPA 25, the system owner is responsible for keeping records on file and providing them to the fire marshal. Think of it like your vehicle registration. The city isn’t the keeper of it. You are. The fire protection company is a third-party service provider that does the work and hands you the documentation. Once you have the prior records, we can pick up right where the other company left off.

Because sprinkler heads have a shelf life. NFPA 25 requires periodic testing of sprinkler heads depending on the type. Some heads need to be tested at 10 years, some at 20, some go 50. It depends on whether you’ve got a quick response head, a fast response head, or something else. The heads are calibrated components, and over decades the fusible links or frangible bulbs can degrade, even if they’ve never been activated. Testing confirms they’ll still perform the way they were designed to.

The information should be on site in your head box, which is the small cabinet kept near your riser with spare heads and a wrench. You can also visually identify heads if you know what you’re looking for. If you’re not sure what you have or what the service schedule is, that’s one we’re happy to come look at. A few minutes on site and we can tell you exactly what kind of heads you’ve got and when each piece of your system is due for service.

That’s Hollywood, not real life. Only the heads that actually reach their activation temperature will go off. Every sprinkler head is individually calibrated and operates on its own. If you have a trash can fire in a bathroom, the head above that bathroom is the one that activates. The heads in the hallway, in the next room, across the building, those stay closed. Historically, most sprinkler activations involve just one or two heads. The one exception is an open-orifice deluge system, which is designed for every head to flow at once. You’d see those outside, over train cars or industrial hazards, and they’re the minority.

Heat. Every head has one of two activating mechanisms. Some use a fusible link, a small solder connection that liquefies at a set temperature, releases a spring, and lets the plug blow out. Others use a frangible bulb, a glass bulb filled with a calibrated fluid. When the fluid reaches its activation temperature, it expands, bursts the bulb, and city water pressure pushes the plug out. Either way, the head stays closed until it personally gets hot enough to activate. No heat at that specific head, no water.

Yes. Standard sprinkler heads are automatic. They sit quietly until heat reaches the activation temperature, and then that specific head opens on its own. No button, no switch, no human intervention required.

Honest answer: it depends on the system. A small CPVC life safety system running off city water with no pump or tank has relatively minor maintenance costs over five years. A new dry system in a factory is a different world. There’s a lot more testing, more components, and more that can need attention. If you’re planning a new install, we can walk you through realistic five-year service estimates for the specific system you’re considering, so you’re not guessing.

A domestic backflow is the assembly that protects your drinking water supply from contamination flowing back into the city system. If you’re on city water, you have one. It keeps water that’s used inside the building from siphoning back out into the public supply if pressure drops.

Yes. Both domestic and fire protection backflows, on both sides. Domestic backflow testing is actually a significant part of what we do.

Once a year. That applies to both fire protection backflows and commercial domestic backflows. Residential domestic backflows technically carry the same annual requirement, though enforcement on the residential side is lighter. Commercial is where the city stays on top of it.

We keep it on file at our office, and we forward a copy to the water district on your behalf as a courtesy. That’s how it works right now. Later this year, that flow changes. Reports will be uploaded to your customer portal, and you’ll send them to the water district yourself. In the meantime, if you need a copy, call the office.

Yes, all of it. Municipal hydrants, private hydrants on commercial or industrial property, we handle the testing across the board.

Yes. We sell them, test them, and service them.

Extinguishers require an annual inspection, and the deeper hydrostatic testing happens on a longer cycle, typically every five to ten years depending on the type of extinguisher.

Yes. We handle residential sprinkler, backflow, and alarm work. Residential fire alarms aren’t the bulk of what we do, since companies like ADT are built around that market, but we do take it on, especially when it’s part of a larger project or alongside other work on the property.

However, in recent years, we have seen an increase in the demand for residential fire protection systems, and we are proud to say that we serve this market. 

At Maine Fire Protection Systems, we are committed to providing top-quality fire protection services to our customers. We understand that safety is a top priority, whether it’s for commercial or residential properties.

We handle a wide variety of residential systems, such as: 

• single-family homes
• two family dwellings 
• apartment buildings 
• dormitories

Several municipalities in Maine now require new single and one and two-family homes to have sprinkler systems. While the state has not yet adopted this requirement into its code, it is still in the national code, and we strongly recommend sprinkler systems for residential dwellings. The cost is worth the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you and your family are safe in the event of a fire.

In addition to sprinkler systems, we provide other residential fire protection services, such as fire alarm systems and extinguishers. 

At Maine Fire Protection Systems, we handle all types of fire protection systems, including those for residential properties. Safety is a top priority, and we are committed to providing the best possible service to our customers. 

Yes. Commercial kitchen hood fire extinguishing systems are part of what we install and service.

Yes.

Yes. We fabricate in-house, which gives us control over quality and lead times on the install side.

Yes. We fabricate in-house, which gives us control over quality and lead times on the install side.

Yes. Clean agent suppression systems are something we design and install for environments where water isn’t the right solution, like server rooms, records storage, or specialty industrial applications.

Yes. Door access and related access control systems are part of our life safety offering.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. We have people based in southern Maine, so routine work down south is handled by techs already in the area. There are still cases where travel time applies, typically for emergency service calls where the closest available tech has to come from further away, but that’s the exception, not the rule.

Investing in a fire safety system is a crucial step for any property when it comes to safety. These systems act as a critical defense line, reducing the catastrophic consequences of a fire. 

These systems need to be inspected and installed each year, which can be time-consuming. Both projects have varying timelines depending on the size and type of job needed. 

In this article, we will discuss how we schedule your fire safety system project and what you can expect for a timeline. 

How Far Out Are You Scheduling Inspections and Installations?

For a new installation, it could take quite a few weeks before the project can start. Before we can step on site, several processes exist, such as design and permitting through the state or local municipality. The permitting process can take anywhere from a week to three weeks, depending on the workload of the authorities. 

• We average scheduling fire sprinkler system inspections a week out. 
• We average scheduling new installations up to four weeks out or more. 

24/7 Emergency Service

In the case of an emergency, we offer a 24/7 service should a fire or other incident occur and can be onsite that day.

Our Commitment to Keeping You Informed

We understand that timelines are a major consideration in any project. We prioritize our customer’s needs above all else. 

Whether we’re working with a residential customer or a larger general contractor, we work closely with them to schedule any necessary work. 

Despite dealing with inconsistent timelines based on codes and standards, we value clear and consistent communication to ensure that all parties are on the same page and that the project progresses smoothly.

At Maine Fire Protection Systems, you can trust that we will keep you informed every step of the way, from scheduling to arrival times. 

In recent years, we have seen an increase in the demand for residential fire protection systems, and we are proud to say that we serve this market. 

At Maine Fire Protection Systems, we are committed to providing top-quality fire protection services to our customers. We understand that safety is a top priority, whether it’s for commercial or residential properties.

We handle a wide variety of residential systems, such as: 

• single-family homes
• two family dwellings 
• apartment buildings 
• dormitories

Several municipalities in Maine now require new single and one and two-family homes to have sprinkler systems. While the state has not yet adopted this requirement into its code, it is still in the national code, and we strongly recommend sprinkler systems for residential dwellings. The cost is worth the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you and your family are safe in the event of a fire.

In addition to sprinkler systems, we provide other residential fire protection services, such as fire alarm systems and extinguishers. 

At Maine Fire Protection Systems, we handle all types of fire protection systems, including those for residential properties. Safety is a top priority, and we are committed to providing the best possible service to our customers.