Fire sprinkler systems are designed to protect lives and property when seconds matter. But even the best designed system depends on regular inspection, testing, and maintenance to remain ready for service.
That is where NFPA 25 comes in.
NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, establishes the baseline requirements for maintaining water-based fire protection systems after installation. It provides guidance for inspecting, testing, and maintaining systems and components so they continue to operate as intended.
For contractors, inspectors, facility teams, and building owners, NFPA 25 is more than a checklist. It is an ongoing service framework that helps identify issues before they become failures and helps owners meet applicable code, inspection, and documentation expectations. Most importantly, it helps ensure fire protection systems are ready when needed.
AGF products are commonly used in areas of a sprinkler system that require regular inspection, testing, and maintenance. Understanding those requirements helps contractors service systems more effectively and helps owners maintain safer, more compliant buildings.
Test and Drain Requirements
As the name suggests, TESTanDRAIN and Inspector’sTEST valves play an important role in confirming system readiness. They are used to verify waterflow alarm 
operation, support draining procedures, and help confirm that water supply performance has not degraded over time.
Main drain tests should be performed at the frequency required for the system arrangement and water supply configuration. The test valve should be in an accessible location, downstream of the waterflow alarm, and the drain should be discharged to a location that will not cause damage.
Continue reading ITM Requirements for AGF Products →
optional. It is a requirement that directly impacts project timelines, approvals, and risk. But understanding the rules is one thing. Meeting them in the field is another.
It is February. A dry fire sprinkler system’s auxiliary drain sits quietly in a loading dock. Overnight temperatures drop, water in the drum drip freezes, and the ice cracks the lower ball valve. By morning, the system has tripped, and water discharges onto the floor that is now frozen. The building is now dealing with a flooded and icy loading dock, a disabled fire sprinkler system, and possible business interuptions but this did not need to happen.
