Why Test?
Antifreeze in sprinkler systems has become a hot-button issue within the sprinkler industry. Recently several incidents have occurred which raised questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of antifreeze solutions in fire sprinklers, particularly residential systems. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) committee Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems recommends the following regarding the testing of antifreeze solutions:
- The system shall be tested annually.
- If the type of antifreeze cannot be reliably determined, then the system shall be completely drained and replaced with an acceptable solution.
- For systems installed prior to September 30, 2012, legacy solutions are allowed until September 30, 2022 provided the concentration of propylene glycol or glycerin is at an acceptable level.
- For systems installed after September 30, 2012, listed antifreeze solution is required.
What to Test:
Antifreeze is typically placed into wet piping sprinkler systems to prevent freezing. According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 25 5.3.3(1) (a) and 5.3.3(1) (b), "test samples shall be taken at the top of each system and at the bottom of each system as follows:
(a) If the most remote portion of the system is not near the top or the bottom of the system, an additional sample shall be taken at the most remote portion.
(b) If the connection to the water supply piping is not near the top or the bottom of the system, an additional sample shall be taken at the connection to the water supply."
Dyne can help you meet the antifreeze testing requirements as outlined in NFPA 25 Section 5.3.3. When the antifreeze type is not known, Dyne can help verify the type including whether or not it is listed. Note that contamination, extreme dilution, and mixing of antifreeze types can make accurate determination difficult in some cases. Samples that cannot reliably be determined to be one of the accepted antifreeze solutions will need to be replaced.
Why Antifreeze Fails:
Antifreeze samples that fail are typically caused by one of the following issues:
- antifreeze solution contains an antifreeze liquid that isn’t allowed by NFPA 25
- solution is mixed too rich
- solution is mixed too lean
- solution is a combination of possible antifreeze liquids
- listed antifreeze does not match product composition
To prevent potential risks, an antifreeze solution that fails should cause the system to be flushed and replaced.
-Dyne Fire Protection Labs