March 1, 2018
The right fire hose spray nozzle can quickly extinguish or control a fire. The wrong type can be ineffective, hard to control, or even harmful. QRFS looks at fire hose nozzles, thread types, cleaning, and maintenance to help you choose the right nozzle for the task at hand.
February 22, 2018
The best fire hoses efficiently move water, and lots of it. But no two kinds of hose are exactly alike. In this guide, QRFS looks at the basic types and features of fire hose, the materials that separate the best hose from the worst, and what you need to do to keep the hose you’ve got fully functional.
February 15, 2018
In this final installment of our series detailing standpipes, we examine the signage required to identify and provide information about different portions of a system. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) issues detailed requirements for labeling the components of a standpipe system in NFPA 14 and NFPA 25.
February 8, 2018
QRFS’s crash course for building owners and fire protection contractors covers NFPA 25’s maintenance testing requirements for automatic and semiautomatic dry standpipe systems.
February 1, 2018
This article breaks down the maintenance testing requirements for existing standpipe systems defined in NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. Our goal is to aggregate and contextualize this code for contractors and building owners.
January 25, 2018
This installment of a continuing series covers required acceptance testing for standpipe systems and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards that correspond with it.
January 18, 2018
A look at the additional, vital portions of a standpipe: the hoses, hose connections and stations, and various system valves. This article explains the purpose of these items and serves as a quick reference for the maintenance and inspections expected of life safety contractors and building owners.
January 11, 2018
This article examines the major individual components of standpipe systems, along with their installation, inspection, and maintenance requirements. Our aim is to simplify this guidance for both contractors and building owners.
January 4, 2018
This article provides an overview of the different types and classes of standpipe systems, as well as explains when they are required according to NFPA 14, the International Fire Code, and the International Building Code.
December 14, 2017
NFPA requires many signs in a fire sprinkler system. Learn about them all to ensure your system is properly marked. Why? So first responders, building managers, and fire professionals all access a well-marked, easy-to-navigate fire protection system that works.
December 7, 2017
Why would a fire protection system need to be drained? This article discusses four common reasons and details the various types of drains necessary for safely draining a fire sprinkler system. Included is a detailed breakdown of the primary drain valves in a sprinkler system: main drains, auxiliary drains, sectional drains, test drains, and more.
November 30, 2017
Kidde, one of the world’s most popular manufacturers of life safety equipment, recalled nearly 40 million fire extinguishers after over 400 safety issues were reported. What does the Kidde fire extingusiher recall mean for you, and which fire extinguisher should you have?
November 23, 2017
Learn how and when hydrostatic testing is conducted on standpipes and fire sprinkler systems, as well as special considerations and the equipment used.
November 16, 2017
In fire sprinkler and standpipe systems, trim valves help make inspection, monitoring, and testing simpler. QRFS looks at trim valves for fire protection, providing an overview of what they are, how they function, and what the NFPA says about these helpful devices.
November 9, 2017
In this article, we dive into thread standards and thread sizing. Travel back into history to gain a better understanding of thread sizes, learn what standards are used today, and find out what solutions are available to ensure you get the right threads for your fire protection job.
November 2, 2017
This article explains the features of plastic fire extinguisher cabinets, where to use them, and their benefits.
October 26, 2017
Learn how a check valve works, the types of check valves, and their benefits. Additionally, understand what components you should look for when selecting a check valve and their maintenance requirements.
October 19, 2017
In this article, we’re going to teach you how to use a valve wheel wrench to loosen a difficult valve. We’ll take a look at the valve wheel wrench itself to get a better understanding of what it is and what sets it apart from other wrenches.
