Are You in Compliance? Avoiding Costly Repairs
Matt Sather Shield Fire Protection
Fire sprinkler systems are a very important tool in protecting your property against fi re. But the fi re sprinkler heads and concealed escutcheons (cover plates) are sometimes not the most beautiful things to look at. It is common for people to want to paint their fi re sprinklers and cover plates to blend into their ceilings, or for an inexperienced contractor to leave them exposed while painting the ceiling. A painted cover plate or fi re sprinkler head would make your system out of compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regulations, specifi cally NFPA 13 6.2.6.2.1 and NFPA 25 5.2.1.1.2, which state that any fi re sprinkler or cover plates with paint on them must be replaced.
sprinklers) the glass bulb will break and water will start fl owing. If there is paint on the fi re sprinkler head or cover plate, it will not function as intended.
The National Fire Protection Association publishes codes and standards for fi re protection systems. The “NFPA 25” code establishes fi ve-year inspection requirements for water-based protection systems. Visit
nfpa.org for more information.
Common paint dries thick and does not allow the fi re sprinkler heads and cover plates to function properly in high temperatures. A cover plate is typically designed to release at 135°F. This allows for the heat from the fi re to expose itself to the fi re sprinkler head. Once the glass bulb inside of the fi re sprinkler reaches 155°F (for ordinary temperature fi re
10 September | October 2023
The paint creates a heat barrier, in turn creating a delay in activating the cover plate and fi re sprinkler. This means that the painted cover plate and fi re sprinkler head will have a delayed reaction and the cover plate or fi re sprinkler head may not function or activate at the correct temperature or at the right time. Painted fi re sprinkler heads and cover plates could also malfunction entirely or may not go off in the event of a fi re.
Even though you cannot paint your cover plates yourself, you can special order painted cover plates. Typical standard cover
plate colors are white, chrome, and black. Fire sprinkler heads cannot be special ordered, but cover plates can be. Cover plates are powder coated directly by the manufacturer which allows for the thin metal plate’s heat element to function at the correct temperature at the right time.
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