Warehouse Fire Sprinklers Systems: Installation & Violation Removal

In NYC, warehouses are utilized by many different industries, including the following:

• Manufacturing.
• Consumer goods and retail.
• Third-party logistics.
• Wholesale distributors.
• Food and beverage.
• Health and medical care.

Whether your warehouse is used for clothing inventory, hardware materials, building supplies or anything else, the fact is you need to protect your investment with a fire protection system.

The first step for installing a fully designed sprinkler system is to hire a licensed Master Fire sprinkler contractor such as Allstate Sprinkler. Our expert engineers will take into consideration all of the factors when designing the system. Each warehouse system must be custom-designed taking into account the following factors:

• Construction type and classification.
• Elevation.
• Purpose.
• Occupancy.

There are other factors that must be considered as well. For instance, if an area is exposed to higher than normal heat – even from something as simple as sunlight – this condition must be taken into account. Exposure to cold temperatures must be taken into account as well. Sprinkler heads and the associated piping activate and react individually as a direct result of local heating, or lack of heating, thereby requiring specific design elements to be incorporated at those areas. Allstate Sprinkler has everything readily available to design and install your entire system.

Once all of the factors have been considered, a team of engineers will use customized CAD technology to create the most cost-effective design for your building.

Just as important as the design of the system is the required inspection, testing and maintenance of such a system. NYC has adopted the NFPA 25 code requirements for all fire sprinkler systems. This regimen consists of the following:

• A simple weekly visual inspection.
• A thorough monthly visual inspection.
• A quarterly fire sprinkler test.
• An annual fire sprinkler test.

The weekly inspection can often be performed by your in-house employees utilizing a simple checklist. The other inspections, however, are required to be performed by a licensed Master Fire sprinkler contractor.

Quarterly inspections are more thorough, including the fire sprinkler riser and control valve inspections. The annual test is very extensive, including a fire pump test and flow test. It includes all of the monthly and quarterly visual checks as well. There is also a five-year internal obstruction inspection requirement to determine the internal integrity of the existing piping.

Both the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) and the FDNY can issue violations for issues related to your fire suppression system. The most frequent violation is improper record keeping, but there are plenty of other common violations, including improper color coding, poor maintenance, invalid certificates or a 5 year hydrostatic test.

If you receive a DOB or FDNY violation, it is essential to take quick action. Allstate Sprinkler has an outstanding 50 year reputation with both agencies and we can assist in the removal of such violations to avoid some or all of the associated fines.

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Is there a reputable, reliable, trustworthy and dedicated fire sprinkler contractor in NYC?”, you’re in luck. Indeed, that’s one of our greatest strengths: we have a staff of over 135 full-time, certified employees throughout the greater New York area, including the following areas:

• Brooklyn
• Queens
• Staten Island
• Manhattan
• Bronx
• Westchester County
• Nassau County
• Suffolk County
• Lower Hudson Valley
• Northern New Jersey

Another reason Allstate is preferred over other sprinkler inspection contractors is the extensive inventory of parts available. As soon as a repair is identified, our field staff can notify the repair shop foreman to rapidly form all the parts necessary to make the repair and return the system to active condition. There are 5 basic types of fire sprinkler systems typically found in the NYC region, including:

• Wet pipe systems.
• Dry pipe systems.
• Deluge systems.
• Pre-action systems.
• Foam systems.

By far, the most common type of system found is the wet pipe system, however, we install and service all systems mentioned above. When a sprinkler system is required, you’re also required to keep spare parts (sprinkler heads and wrench) on hand, which we also supply.

Allstate Sprinkler is the premier fire protection contractor in the greater NYC region for many decades. We are very proud to narrow this down, however, to one simple reason: superior service. Warehouse owners receive violations and fines for poor record keeping because too many other companies cut corners or fail to respond to violations in a timely manner.

From our inception 50 years ago to our present day operation, we offer 24/7/365 emergency service and require all employees to complete a rigorous apprenticeship program. With over 5,000 installations (and counting), we take pride in our outstanding reputation with the FDNY and the DOB and our partnership with small and large businesses.

As a warehouse owner, you understand the need for proper life-safety systems to keep your operation running smoothly. Contact us today with the address of the building you own, any previous violations or known issues, the occupancy and size of the building, and any other pertinent information you have. We look forward to working with you!