"Jump Off" for Low-Air Supervisory Inspection?

5/5/2020

I have an inspection question regarding quarterly checks on low air supervisory devices on dry systems.

Is it okay to simply "jump off" the device when not doing a full or partial trip to simply make sure it hits the panel?

I feel like I'm doing a disservice inspecting using this method, but I've seen it a lot. Unfortunately for me, it's been a crapshoot lately on what dry valve is going to go haywire when I drop air via an Inspector's Test Valve or at the riser. I'm thinking of just recommending a bleeder valve to be installed and go the easy route, saving both myself and customers a lot of anxiousness.

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9 Comments

Mike

5/5/2020 10:14:37 am

I'm sorry. Could you explain jump off?

Douglas link

5/5/2020 10:29:19 am

I’m assuming that “Jump Off” means placing a jumper on the low air switch contacts to see what the fire alarm panel will do if there’s a low air situation. It doesn’t show if the switch is set correctly, or even if the switch works.

The bleeder valve does work, to an extent. If carefully used, the low air switch activation point can be determined. If there’s an accelerator on the system, though, I won’t touch that valve for fear of setting off the accelerator.

The way the fire alarm company I worked for fixed the problem was to subcontract a sprinkler company to do their inspection when the fire alarm system was inspected. The sprinkler company and the fire alarm company working together seems to be the best answer.

Justin

5/5/2020 10:32:29 am

I think i understand 'jump off'.
Dropping the air pressure -versus- 'jump off' will verify that the switch engages and disengages properly as well as the air compressor performs properly. Consider installing a bleed off valve with gauge below the air switch for testing.

David link

5/5/2020 10:32:43 am

Jumping (if I understand what you mean by that phrase) equipment during an inspection is not proving the equipment works in "normal" condition.

Potter 1/2" BVL
Gauge and test valve between valve and switch. Added money is worth the pain of an accidental trip during inspection.

Should be a requirement to install testing method for High/Low air switch.

Expense trumps the requirement.

It is interesting that we have to provide other non invasive testing methods for equipment per the standards.

Thomas Reinhardt

5/5/2020 11:23:22 am

I might be wrong here,but I would follow NFPA 25. Sound like a liability problem.

Pete D.

5/5/2020 11:45:44 am

Trip pressure, low air supervisory, compressor on pressure. The thresholds should be set up from low to high in that order. Close the dry system control valve to prevent accidently tripping. Check that control valve supervisory signal comes through at the panel. Before reopening it, bleed air from the compressor tank and verify that the compressor kicks on with no corresponding low air supervisory signal at the FACP. Turn off the compressor and continue to bleed air from the compressor tank verfiying that a low air supervisory signal comes through and that the corresponding pressure is higher than the system trip pressure.Turn the compressor back on and wait until the system is fully pressurized. Open the system control valve and confirm that the system supervisory signal restores. Warm reset panel and take monitoring off of test.

Wes

5/5/2020 11:57:38 am

Wow, well said Pete!

Pete D.

5/6/2020 10:26:06 pm

Thanks. It's not outside of the realm of possibility that the poster inspects at one of my 103 buildings, and I'm paying him for the jumper service.

Mike F

5/5/2020 01:07:32 pm

Unless the codes have changed, I believe the QOD/Accelerator is also required to be tested during a quarterly inspection as well.

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