What is the purpose of conducting a drain test on a valve?

The purpose of conducting a drain test on a valve is primarily to determine if the valve is fully open. During this test, water is allowed to drain from the system, which reveals whether the valve is functioning correctly and is in the open position. This is crucial for ensuring that water can flow freely in the event of a fire, allowing the fire protection system to operate effectively.

While inspecting for leaks, measuring flow rate, and assessing water pressure are important maintenance tasks, they are not the primary objectives of a drain test. Leak inspections are typically done visually or with pressure tests, measuring flow rate is achieved through other specific testing methods, and pressure assessments require different equipment and methodologies. Thus, confirming that the valve is open is the key reason for conducting this type of test.