Frequently Asked Questions

Under NFPA 25, inspection frequencies vary by component. Control valves and pressure gauges require weekly or monthly visual checks. Alarm valves and waterflow devices need quarterly testing by a licensed technician. A full annual inspection must be performed by a certified fire protection company, including main drain tests, sprinkler head inspection, and functional testing of all devices. Certain components require 3-year, 5-year, or longer-cycle inspections, such as internal pipe obstruction investigations (every 5 years) and dry valve trip tests (every 3 years).

Under the Alberta Building Code, most commercial buildings exceeding 600 square metres (approximately 6,460 square feet) are required to have an automatic fire sprinkler system. However, the exact requirement depends on your building's occupancy classification, height, construction type, and use. High-hazard occupancies, buildings where people sleep (hotels, care facilities), and high-rise buildings have stricter requirements. Your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), typically Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, makes the final determination.

NFPA 13 is the comprehensive standard for commercial, industrial, and high-rise buildings. It requires sprinkler coverage in nearly all areas, including attics, concealed spaces, and storage rooms, protecting both life and property. NFPA 13R is a more limited standard designed for low-rise residential occupancies (generally 4 stories or less) and focuses strictly on life safety; it allows omitting sprinklers from attics, small closets, and bathrooms. These standards are not interchangeable. Your fire protection engineer will determine which standard applies based on occupancy type and the Alberta Building Code.

Costs vary significantly based on system type, building complexity, and whether it's new construction or a retrofit. For new construction, expect $1.50 to $3.50+ per square foot for a standard wet pipe system. Retrofitting an existing building typically costs $2.00 to $7.00+ per square foot due to the complexity of working around existing infrastructure. Specialized systems (dry pipe, pre-action, high-hazard) can exceed $10.00 per square foot. Contact Sterling for a project-specific quotation.

Painted, corroded, loaded (dust/debris), or damaged sprinkler heads must be replaced immediately. NFPA 25 requires that any sprinkler head showing signs of leakage, corrosion, or physical damage be replaced with a new head of the same type, temperature rating, and K-factor. Never paint a sprinkler head; it can prevent the heat-sensitive element from activating during a fire.

Yes. Standard sprinkler heads must be tested or replaced at 50 years from the date of manufacture, and every 10 years thereafter. Fast-response sprinkler heads must be tested or replaced at 20 years from manufacture. Dry-type sprinkler heads must be tested or replaced at 10 years. If testing reveals any head fails to meet performance requirements, all heads of that type must be replaced.

Under the Alberta Fire Code (referencing NFPA 72), fire alarm systems require monthly panel checks (verifying trouble signals, battery condition, and testing a sample device) and a comprehensive annual inspection by a certified fire alarm technician. The annual inspection includes testing every smoke detector, heat detector, manual pull station, and notification appliance (horns and strobes), plus verifying the system's connection to the monitoring station. All tests must be documented.

The Alberta Building Code determines when a fire alarm system is required based on occupancy classification, occupant load, building size, and use. Buildings where people sleep (Group C residential with shared corridors, Group B care facilities), high-occupancy assembly spaces, and buildings with interconnected fire protection systems generally require a fire alarm system. The local AHJ has final authority.

An addressable fire alarm system assigns a unique digital address to each device (detector, pull station, module), allowing the fire alarm panel to identify the exact location of an alarm or trouble condition. While the Alberta Building Code doesn't always mandate addressable systems, they are strongly recommended for commercial and multi-story buildings and are often required by insurance providers. Most new installations use addressable technology.

Under the Alberta Fire Code, the building owner is ultimately responsible for ensuring all fire protection systems are maintained in compliance with the code. While lease agreements may delegate certain responsibilities to tenants; the legal obligation for system inspection, testing, and maintenance remains with the owner.

You are legally required to maintain documentation of all inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) activities. This includes annual inspection reports, quarterly and monthly test records, records of all repairs and system modifications, and initial system verification reports. Records should be kept for a minimum of 3 years and must be stored on-site. These records must be available for review by the AHJ or your insurance provider at any time.

A main drain test measures the water pressure and flow available to your sprinkler system by fully opening the main drain valve and recording static pressure, residual pressure, and the time to restore normal pressure. This test, required quarterly under NFPA 25, helps detect problems with the water supply such as partially closed valves, municipal supply issues, or obstructions in the underground piping.

Integrated systems testing (IST) is mandatory in Alberta for any building where fire protection and life safety systems are interconnected; for example, a fire alarm that triggers sprinkler valve release, activates smoke control fans, recalls elevators, and releases magnetic door holders. IST verifies that all systems work together as designed. The test must be coordinated by an Integrated Testing Coordinator (ITC), who must be a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).

A fire pump is required when the municipal water supply cannot provide sufficient pressure and flow to meet the hydraulic demand of your fire sprinkler system. This is common in high-rise buildings, large-footprint warehouses, remote industrial facilities, and buildings with high-hazard occupancies. The need for a fire pump is determined during the hydraulic design phase by your fire protection engineer.

NFPA 25 requires weekly no-flow (churn) tests where the pump is started and run for a minimum of 10 minutes (electric) or 30 minutes (diesel) to ensure it starts reliably. An annual flow test must be performed by a qualified technician, verifying the pump meets its rated performance at 100% and 150% of rated flow. These tests must be documented.

Yes. In Edmonton and most Alberta municipalities, a backflow prevention assembly is required on both fire protection and domestic water service connections to prevent contaminated water from flowing back into the municipal water supply. The type of assembly (double check valve assembly or reduced pressure zone device) depends on the hazard classification of your fire protection system.

Backflow prevention assemblies on fire protection systems must be tested annually by a certified backflow tester. Test reports must be submitted to the municipality and kept on file. If a device fails testing, it must be repaired or replaced and re-tested before it can be returned to service. Sterling provides both backflow installation and annual testing services.

Clean agent systems use gaseous suppression agents, such as FM-200 (HFC-227ea) or Novec 1230, that extinguish fires without leaving residue or causing water damage. They are designed for environments where water-based suppression would cause more damage than the fire itself: data centres, server rooms, telecommunications facilities, museum archives, and electrical switchgear rooms.

Clean agent systems require semi-annual visual inspections and a comprehensive annual inspection per NFPA 2001. Agent cylinder weight or pressure must be verified; if the agent level drops below 95% of the required charge, the system must be recharged. The system enclosure (room integrity) should be fan-tested to verify agent retention time.

Emergency lighting requires a monthly 30-second functional test and an annual 90-minute full battery discharge test to confirm the battery can sustain illumination during a power failure. Both tests must be documented. Failed units must be repaired or replaced immediately.

Yes. Exit signs must be continuously illuminated and clearly visible from the direction of approach at all times. In the event of a power failure, exit signs must remain illuminated for a minimum of 90 minutes using battery backup or emergency power. Faded, damaged, or non-illuminating signs must be replaced immediately.

Fire extinguishers require a monthly visual inspection by the building owner (verify location, gauge in green zone, pin and tamper seal intact, no visible damage). An annual inspection must be performed by a certified technician per NFPA 10. Every 6 years, stored-pressure extinguishers require an internal examination. Hydrostatic pressure testing is required every 5 to 12 years depending on type.

The type depends on the hazards present. Class A is for ordinary combustibles (wood, paper). Class B is for flammable liquids. Class C is for electrical equipment. Class K is for commercial kitchen cooking oils. Most commercial buildings require multi-purpose ABC dry chemical extinguishers. Commercial kitchens must have Class K wet chemical extinguishers. Placement spacing is specified in NFPA 10 (maximum 75 feet travel distance for Class A).

The National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition (NFC(AE) 2023) has been in force since May 1, 2024, replacing the 2019 edition. It is based on the National Fire Code of Canada 2020 with Alberta-specific amendments. You can access the full code for free electronically through the NRC Publications Archive.

Under the Alberta Safety Codes Act, penalties include fines of up to $100,000 for a first offense and up to $500,000 for subsequent offenses, plus imprisonment of up to 6 months (first offense) or 12 months (subsequent). The AHJ can also order facility closure and non-compliance can void property insurance.

A fire safety plan outlines your building's emergency procedures, supervisory staff duties, fire protection equipment locations, and maintenance schedules. The Alberta Fire Code requires fire safety plans for most commercial, industrial, and multi-unit residential buildings. The plan must be approved by the local fire department and reviewed at least annually.

STANDATA documents are official interpretations, variances, and bulletins issued by Alberta Municipal Affairs. They clarify how the fire code applies in specific situations and may establish province-wide variances. Building owners, engineers, and contractors should check the current STANDATA to ensure they are applying the code correctly for Alberta.

Sterling is headquartered in Edmonton at 17504-111 Ave NW. We serve Edmonton and Western Canada, including St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Red Deer, and surrounding areas.

Yes. Sterling provides 24-hour emergency fire protection service. If your fire protection system is down, call us immediately at 780-760-0806. We can dispatch a trained technician to your site at any time.

Sterling provides comprehensive fire protection services including system design and engineering, installation of sprinklers, fire alarms, fire pumps, standpipes, special hazard suppression, and backflow preventers. We also provide certified inspections, 24/7 emergency repair, fire code consulting, and backflow testing.

Contact us at rssterling.ca/contact, call 780-760-0806, or email us. We provide detailed, written quotations at no cost or obligation for both new projects and inspection/maintenance programs.