#14 – Can I Paint My Fire Sprinkler Cover Plate?

No! Learn why you can’t paint sprinkler covers — and the aesthetic alternatives

A fresh coat of paint on the walls can spruce up a home or business. During the process, it’s natural to wonder if you can also paint the cover plate of your concealed fire sprinklers to match the room or freshen it up. After all, what’s the point of painting a white ceiling another color if the sprinkler’s concealer is still bright white?

But before you get out the roller and paint brush you must know: painting a cover plate voids your fire sprinkler’s manufacturer warranty and could endanger lives.

In this blog, we discuss why it is crucial that you do NOT paint your cover plates, plus outline options to match your sprinkler covers to your ceiling (yes, you have options!). You can also browse the internet’s largest selection of replacement fire sprinkler covers here.

Fire sprinkler covers 101

A cover plate is a thin piece of decorative metal connected to a frame using temperature-responsive solder. It is designed to react to a specific temperature. As ceiling temperatures rise at or above a cover plate’s specifications, the solder melts, releasing the plate and exposing the concealed sprinkler. The most common concealed fire sprinkler cover plates are designed to release at about 135°F (57°C), freeing the sprinkler’s glass bulb to activate at 155°F (68°C). Other temperatures are also available but operate similarly.

Common paint, on the other hand, is not designed to respond to a specific temperature and dries like glue; both are detrimental to a cover plate’s temperature responsiveness. By painting a cover plate, you are putting a dangerous roadblock in the way of your sprinkler’s normal operation. That’s why it’s a significant fire code violation. The rules in NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems that apply to fire sprinklers include modifying their cover plates:

From the 2023 edition of NFPA 25

5.4.1.7* Sprinklers shall not be altered in any respect or have any type of ornamentation, paint, or coatings applied after shipment from the place of manufacture.

In addition to the compliance and life-safety implications, painting a cover plate voids the warranty on your fire sprinklers. Victaulic’s warranty, for example, states, “This warranty shall not apply to any product which has been altered in any manner outside of Victaulic’s factory.”

So, a warning worth repeating: DO NOT paint or in any other way modify your fire sprinklers or their cover plates!

However, that doesn’t mean you are stuck with an unflattering sprinkler cover plate color.

Custom fire sprinkler cover plate options

While each manufacturer is different, some have more out-of-the-box color options than others. The big five (Tyco, Viking, Victaulic, Reliable, and Globe) follow the pattern mentioned above: white and chrome are standard, black is an option, and custom colors are available upon request. But another manufacturer we proudly stock, Senju Sprinkler, offers a plethora of cover plate options standard. Additionally, Senju goes out of its way to provide custom residential cover plates that match the ceiling perfectly, as demonstrated by the image above.

Because of the differences between manufacturers, the first and most important step if you want to spruce up your fire sprinkler cover plates is to determine who made it and the concealed sprinkler it hides. The easiest way to do this is to look at the sticker located on the inside of the cover plate. It is usually on the backside of the cover plate itself, as shown in the image below, or on the base of the cover plate’s frame. A very important note: cover plates are NOT interchangeable between brands. You MUST purchase covers that are the same brand, size, and temperature as the original.

But be careful: removing the cover plate can potentially damage the sprinkler. Often, cover plates screw out but can also have tabs that hold them in place and require a gentle but firm tug to remove them. It is always better to be safe than sorry. A sprinkler contractor can help if you run into trouble. And if your sprinkler brand is listed below, we can help with the next step:

 

After locating your sprinkler’s brand, next determine your color preference. Go to your favorite hardware store where you purchase paint and pick up a paint swatch that matches your wall or ceiling. If your sprinkler matches the brands listed above, contact QRFS by phone or email. Otherwise, contact a local sprinkler contractor or the manufacturer directly. The manufacturer, through us or otherwise, will provide pricing and a lead time to match the desired paint or image for a custom cover plate. Each custom color usually requires a paint set-up fee and the actual cost of paint and production—you can read this guide for a detailed walk-through of the process.

If you are painting your walls or ceilings, make sure to carefully tape off the cover plates and fire sprinklers. If paint mistakenly gets on the sprinkler or cover plate, you should promptly replace it!

Now you know why you should never paint your fire sprinkler cover plate and what your options are for matching your sprinkler system and ceiling color. If you’re in the market for new cover plates, please click the link below to get started:

Click here to view QRFS’s cover plate selection!

If you have any questions, give us a call at 888.361.6662 or email support@qrfs.com.

This blog was originally published at blog.qrfs.com on March 12, 2013, and updated on October 31, 2022. If you like what you’ve read, check us out on Facebook or Twitter.