NFPA 25 inspection schedule for sprinkler systems.
NFPA 25 sets inspection, testing and maintenance tasks for water-based fire protection at weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual, annual and 5-year intervals. The big ones: control valves weekly or monthly, waterflow alarms quarterly or semiannually, a main drain test and fire pump flow test every year, and an internal pipe assessment and gauge replacement every 5 years.
What is due, and how often.
Checked November 2026.
| Check | How often | Who does it | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sealed control valves: inspect | Weekly | Owner or contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 13 |
| Locked or electrically supervised control valves: inspect | Monthly | Owner or contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 13 |
| Gauges on dry, preaction and deluge systems | Weekly (monthly if supervised) | Owner or contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 5 and 13 |
| Gauges on wet systems | Monthly | Owner or contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 5 |
| Diesel fire pump run without flow (30 min) | Weekly | Owner or contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 8 |
| Electric fire pump run without flow (10 min) | Weekly or monthly, depending on the pump and building | Owner or contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 8 |
| Mechanical waterflow alarm devices: test | Quarterly | Qualified contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 5 |
| Vane and pressure-switch waterflow alarms: test | Semiannually | Qualified contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 5 |
| Sprinklers, pipe, fittings and hangers: inspect from the floor | Annually | Qualified contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 5 |
| Main drain test | Annually (quarterly where the supply passes a backflow preventer or pressure-reducing valve) | Qualified contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 13 |
| Fire pump flow test | Annually | Qualified contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 8 |
| Dry pipe valve trip test | Partial trip annually, full flow every 3 years | Qualified contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 13 |
| Backflow preventer forward flow test | Annually | Certified backflow tester | NFPA 25, ch. 13; local water utility |
| Gauges: replace or recalibrate | Every 5 years | Qualified contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 5 |
| Internal pipe assessment (obstructions, corrosion) | Every 5 years | Qualified contractor | NFPA 25, ch. 14 |
| Sprinkler sample testing | Standard sprinklers at 50 years; fast-response at 20 years; dry sprinklers at 10 years; then every 10 | Testing laboratory | NFPA 25, ch. 5 |
This is a guide, not legal advice. What your building needs depends on its use, size, risk and equipment, and standards are revised. Check with your competent people and the current official sources.
What to keep on file.
- Inspection, testing and maintenance reports for each visit, with deficiencies and when they were fixed.
- Fire pump test results compared with the pump's original acceptance curve.
- Impairment records: when a system was out of service, who was told and when it was restored.
What catches people out.
- Your fire marshal (the authority having jurisdiction) enforces a specific edition of NFPA 25, often not the latest. Ask which one applies.
- Many weekly and monthly checks can be done by the building owner; testing is usually contracted to a licensed fire protection company.
- Insurers, such as FM Global clients, may require more frequent tests than NFPA 25.
- Deficiencies must be corrected, and impairments managed under NFPA 25's impairment procedures.
Dueclear tracks every due date for every building.
Each inspection gets its interval, its rule and an owner. Dueclear reminds the owner from 60 days ahead, and your contractor uploads the new certificate from a link, no account needed.
FAQ
How often do sprinkler systems need to be inspected under NFPA 25?
Different parts on different schedules: control valves weekly or monthly, alarms quarterly or semiannually, a full visual inspection and main drain test every year, and an internal pipe assessment every 5 years.
Who is responsible for NFPA 25 compliance?
The property owner or their designated representative. They can contract the work out, but the responsibility stays with them.
Which edition of NFPA 25 applies to my building?
The one adopted by your state or local fire code. Your fire marshal can confirm it.
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