Category: Articles

This article originally appeared in the Fire & Safety Journal Americas, Aug. 2026.

Fire protection systems are often judged at the moment they are commissioned. The final inspection is complete, the system passes its acceptance test, and the building is cleared for occupancy. Yet commissioning is only the beginning of a system’s operational life. Water based fire protection systems remain in place for decades, serving buildings that evolve, age, and change in ways designers cannot fully predict. The true measure of a system is not how it performs on day one, but how it performs on day 5,000.

Long term reliability is not a passive outcome. It is the result of deliberate design choices, informed installation practices, and consistent maintenance over time. As buildings become more complex and risk expectations increase, the fire protection industry must place greater emphasis on designing systems that remain serviceable, maintainable, and dependable throughout their life cycle.

A water based fire protection system is more than a collection of pipe, valves, drains, vents, and sprinklers. It is a long term safety asset. Like any asset, its performance depends not only on how it is designed and installed, but also on how well it can be inspected, tested, drained, vented, repaired, and returned to service over many years.

Continue reading Designing Water Based Fire Protection Systems for Long Term Reliability →

When it comes to fire protection, codes and standards provide the baseline: reliable systems designed to save lives and protect property. But for building owners, simply meeting minimum code requirements doesn’t always address the everyday challenges of operating and maintaining these systems. Increasingly, the fire protection industry is embracing technologies and product designs that go beyond compliance to deliver added value through convenience, cost savings, and peace of mind.

Building Codes: The Starting Point, Not the Finish Line

Codes are essential, but they’re written to ensure safety, not to optimize building operations. They don’t always account for factors like maintenance labor, service costs, or the risk of incidental water damage. Manufacturers and contractors are stepping in to fill that gap by offering products that streamline maintenance, reduce nuisance issues, and provide owners with tools for smarter management of their fire protection systems. For example, AGF’s Flood Eliminator is a product designed to allow condensate water to collect normally in a standard drum drip but then, if presented with the flow that would result from a failed drum drip, automatically trip to cut off that flow, eliminating the flooding and damage that would result from the system’s failure.

Continue reading Beyond Code: How Innovative Fire Protection Products Benefit Building Owners →

For nearly 40 years, AGF Manufacturing has been guided by the same principles it was founded: innovation, integrity, and a commitment to the fire protection industry. But what truly sets AGF apart isn’t just its reputation for quality, it’s

the fact that it has remained a proudly family-owned, American manufacturer from the start.

AGF’s story began in 1986, when George J. McHugh III partnered with Alan Gilmore to solve a problem in the fire sprinkler world. Their solution, the original TESTANDRAIN Model 1000, replaced a complex assembly of 17 separate components with a single handle, multi-function valve. It was a simple but powerful innovation that changed the industry. That spirit of problem solving and practical engineering continues to define AGF today.

Continue reading AGF: A Proud American Manufacturer, Now in Its Third Generation of Family Leadership →

Corrosion prevention is crucial for protecting lives and property.

Corrosion poses a significant threat in fire sprinkler systems, often remaining undetected until it’s too late, leading to property damage or even loss of life during a fire event. Traditional Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) protocols are essential but can inadvertently accelerate corrosion rates by introducing fresh oxygen into the system. Fortunately, advancements in products and strategies offer enhanced corrosion prevention and monitoring capabilities, crucial for protecting lives and property.

 

Understanding the corrosion triangle

Corrosion in fire sprinkler pipes arises from a chemical reaction producing rust particles. Unlike typical plumbing systems where flowing water flushes away these particles, stagnant water in fire sprinkler systems allows rust buildup, leading to obstructions. This buildup, if present during a fire, can hinder water flow or block sprinkler heads, amplifying the severity of the situation. The corrosion triangle, comprising steel, water, and oxygen, forms the basis of this process. Fire sprinkler systems provide ideal conditions for corrosion as all three elements are present. Wet systems, filled with water and oxygen, are particularly susceptible, while dry systems, despite the absence of water, are not immune due to trapped moisture and oxygen.

Continue reading Ensuring Corrosion Protection Beyond Routine Maintenance in Fire Sprinkler Systems →

A proactive approach to extend the life of your systems.

Among the requirements needed to keep commercial fire sprinklers working and code compliant are the routine inspections, which can seem complex. Most of the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (ITM) of sprinkler systems require a qualified life safety professional, but some of the work can be done by in-house facility personnel.

NFPA 25, the Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems is the primary standard for most facilities and this standard assign specific responsibilities to the property owner or their designated representative. The property owner is ultimately responsible for the integrity of the fire sprinkler system even if ITM is being provided by an outside contractor.

4.1.1 Responsibility for Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, and Impairment. – The property owner or designated representative shall be responsible for properly maintaining a water-based fire protection system.

Continue reading Inspecting Your Fire Sprinkler Systems →

Choosing the correct relief valve needs preplanning

Pressure relief valves protect fire sprinkler system components by relieving excess system pressure from supply surges or temperature changes. Since the 2010 edition, NFPA 13: “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems” has required pressure relief valves to be installed on all wet pipe fire sprinkler systems. But picking the correct relief valve for a specific system does need a little preplanning. Knowing the desired static pressure of the system and reviewing the UL and FM Standards regarding the required operational characteristic of relief valves used on sprinkler systems for guidance, one can deduce the best rating for a relief valve on any system.

Continue reading The Risks of Adjustable Pressure Relief Valves →

Preparing for Winter, Sprinkler System Maintenance

In freezing weather, dry and pre-action fire sprinkler systems have a major Achilles heel if improperly maintained—the auxiliary drains. Auxiliary drains, also referred to as low point drains or drum drips, are required on dry or pre-action fire sprinkler systems to collect condensation that forms in the pipes.

When improperly maintained, low point drains break and can cause major facility flooding. The cost to repair and reset the fire sprinkler system itself is negligible compared to the cost of water damage mitigation, potentially lost inventory, tenant interruption, increased liability, and increased insurance premiums.

Luckily, understanding attentive maintenance and other available solutions can help facilities prevent flooding caused by frozen low point drains.

Continue reading Prepare your Low Point Drain for Winter →