Itm Nfsa

Making Sense of Fire Sprinkler
Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance

Reports
© National Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc. - 2015 1

Learning Objectives
• Recognize the record-keeping requirements
assigned to owners/property managers by
NFPA 25.
• Identify and define common terms used on

ITM reports.
• Develop priority-based correction and/or repair

plans based on the information contained in the
ITM reports.
• Determine if ITM reports prepared by contractors

comply with NFPA 25.
2
Why NFPA 25?
• Contains all the requirements for an existing
system
• Strives to balance the cost of system

maintenance with what provides the best
return
• Referenced in all national model building and

fire codes
3
NFPA 25/ITM Stakeholders
• There are 3 stakeholders in the NFPA 25
based ITM process
– Owner
– Contractor
– AHJ
INFORMATION
4
Stakeholder Communication
© National Fire Sprinkler Association - 2011 5

Important Terms
• Inspection
• Testing
• Maintenance
6
Inspection
3.3.23 Inspection. A visual

examination of a system or
portion thereof to verify that it
appears to be in operating
condition and is free of
physical damage.

Testing
3.3.47* Testing. A procedure used to determine the
operational status of a component or system by
conducting periodic physical checks, such as water
flow tests, fire pump tests, alarm tests, and trip tests
of dry pipe, deluge, or preaction valves.

Maintenance
3.3.25 Maintenance. In
water-based fire protection
systems, work performed to
keep equipment operable or
to make repairs.

Organization of NFPA 25
• Chapters 1-4
– “Administrative Chapters”
• Chapters 5-13
– “System Chapters”
• Chapters 14 & 15
– “Corrective Chapters”
• Chapter 16
– Special Requirements from Other NFPA
Documents (new in 2014 edition)
• Annexes A-F
10
Summary Tables
• Each system chapter has “summary tables”
outlining ITM frequencies
• Tables are good reference but be sure to read

the sections that are referenced
11
Summary Tables
12
Owner Responsibilities
• Chapter 4 “General Requirements”
• Section 4.1 “Responsibility of Property Owner

or Designated Representative”
• Most owner requirements were combined

into 4.1 in the last few cycles of NFPA 25
13
Owner Responsibilities
• Section 4.1 – Owner is responsible for:
– Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance
– Maintaining temperature in the building
– Providing access to important features
– Notification of shutdown
– Impairment handling/Appointing coordinator
– Corrections and repairs
– NOT making changes without evaluation
– Addressing changes
– Maintaining records
14
NFPA 25 Documentation
• ITM reports are the primary source of
information about the condition of
the system
• Other documentation
is also required
• NFPA 25 doesn’t mandate

the use of any particular
form or report
15
• ITM records:
– Shall be maintained by the owner
– As-built drawings, hydraulic calculations, original
acceptance test records, and manufacturers cut-
sheets shall be retained for the life of the system
– Subsequent records shall be retained for a period
of 1 year after the next inspection, test or
maintenance of that type
ORIGINAL + CURRENT CYCLE + LAST CYCLE

16
• ITM Reports must contain (per NFPA 25-2014
section 4.3.2):
1. The procedure/activity performed
2. The organization that performed the activity
3. The required frequency of the activity
4. The results and date
5. The name and contact info of the qualified
contractor or owner, including lead person for
the activity
17
• Understanding the information on ITM reports
is critical
• Deficiencies
• Impairments
• Observations
• Each require corrective

action for NFPA 25 compliance
18
Deficiency
3.3.7* Deficiency. For the purposes of
inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-
based fire protection systems, a condition that
will or has the potential to adversely impact the
performance of a system or portion thereof but
does not rise to the level of an impairment.

Non-Critical or Critical
• Critical Deficiency
– A deficiency that, if not corrected, can have a
material effect on the ability of the fire protection
system or unit to function as intended in a fire
event.
• Noncritical Deficiency
– A deficiency that does not have a material effect
on the ability of the fire protection system or unit
to function in a fire event, but correction is
needed to meet the requirements of this standard
or for the proper inspection, testing, and
maintenance of the system or unit.
Impairment
3.3.21* Impairment. A
condition where a fire
protection system or
unit or portion thereof
is out of order, and the condition can result in the
fire protection system or unit not functioning
in a fire event.
Impairment
• Preplanned Impairment
– A condition where a water-based fire protection system or a
portion thereof is out of service due to work that has been
planned in advance, such as revisions to the water supply or
sprinkler system piping.
• Emergency Impairment
– A condition where a water based fire protection system or
portion thereof is out of order due to an unplanned
occurrence, or the impairment is found while performing
inspection testing or maintenance activities.

Observations
• Items outside the scope of NFPA 25
• May or may not be code violations
23
• Contractor’s performing ITM in accordance
with NFPA 25 may not point out things outside
the scope of the standard
– Recalled sprinklers
– Unsprinklered areas
– Changes to use
– Coverage issues
– Concealed spaces
– Evidence of “less-frequent” I&T’s
24
Stakeholder Responsibilities
• The owner is responsible for maintaining the
system(s)
• The contractor's role is to provide the owner

with information (facts) about the condition of
the system
• The AHJ’s role is enforcement (making sure

NFPA 25 is being followed) along with some
consultation
25
NFPA Documentation

Questions?
27
Thank You!
Jason Webb
Director of ITM
National Fire Sprinkler Association
webb@nfsa.org
28

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Making Sense of Fire Sprinkler

Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance

© National Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc. - 2015 1

• Identify and define common terms used on

• Develop priority-based correction and/or repair

• Determine if ITM reports prepared by contractors

• Strives to balance the cost of system

• Referenced in all national model building and

© National Fire Sprinkler Association - 2011 5

3.3.23 Inspection. A visual

© National Fire Sprinkler Association - 2011 7

© National Fire Sprinkler Association - 2011 8

© National Fire Sprinkler Association - 2011 9

• Tables are good reference but be sure to read

• Section 4.1 “Responsibility of Property Owner

• Most owner requirements were combined

• NFPA 25 doesn’t mandate

ORIGINAL + CURRENT CYCLE + LAST CYCLE

• Each require corrective

© National Fire Sprinkler Association - 2011 19

© National Fire Sprinkler Association - 2011 22

• The contractor's role is to provide the owner

• The AHJ’s role is enforcement (making sure

© National Fire Sprinkler Association - 2011 26

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