Apartment buildings, shopping centers, offices and many newer homes in and around Fullerton have fire sprinkler systems fed from the public water supply. Water in those pipes can stagnate and pick up metals or treatment chemicals, so it must not flow back toward the main.

Fire line assemblies are often larger than anything on a home irrigation line and may sit on a riser outside the building, in a vault or inside a fire riser room. Because they are part of a life-safety system, shutting them down for a test needs more care.

Fire line terms

DCDA
Double check detector assembly: a double check with a small bypass meter that shows if water is moving through the fire line.
RPDA
Reduced pressure detector assembly: the RP version, used where the fire system has a higher hazard such as added chemicals.
Riser
The vertical pipe where the fire line enters or rises in a building, often with valves and gauges.
Fire department connection
The outside inlet where fire crews can pump water into the sprinkler system.
Impairment
Any time the fire protection system is out of service, including during a test.

How a fire line test usually goes

  1. Plan the shutdown

    The owner or manager agrees on a time, and anyone monitoring the system is told it will be out of service.

  2. Notify as required

    Monitoring companies and, where required, the fire authority are notified. Check local rules.

  3. Test the assembly

    The tester measures each check valve, and the detector meter is checked as well.

  4. Restore and confirm

    Valves are reopened, supervisory switches confirmed and the system returned to service.

  5. File the reports

    The backflow report goes to the water supplier; fire system records go where fire rules require.

For property managers

  • Keep a list of every backflow assembly on the property with serial numbers.
  • Know where the fire riser room or outdoor assembly is and keep access clear.
  • Schedule the backflow test alongside other fire system service where it makes sense.
  • Confirm who notifies the alarm monitoring company.
  • Keep copies of backflow reports with fire system inspection records.

Questions for a fire line tester

  1. Are you certified to test backflow assemblies and familiar with fire line procedures?
  2. Who handles monitoring and fire authority notifications?
  3. How long will the system be out of service?
  4. If the assembly fails, can it be repaired without a long impairment?
  5. Does any repair need a permit or inspection? (Check with the city.)

Common questions

Does a home fire sprinkler system need a backflow device?

It depends on how the system is connected and what the water supplier requires. Ask the city for your address.

Why does my fire line have a small meter on it?

That is the detector bypass meter on a DCDA or RPDA. It shows water use through the fire line, which could mean a leak or improper use.

Can the backflow tester also inspect the fire system?

Fire sprinkler inspections are a separate scope. Ask whether the company is qualified for both or only the backflow test.

General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.