What type of maintenance or inspection is recommended for control valves?

Regular operational testing of control valves is crucial to ensure their functionality and reliability within a water-based fire protection system. Control valves play a key role in managing the flow of water through the system, and if they are not operational, it could lead to significant issues during a fire emergency where water supply is critical.

This type of testing allows for the verification that the valves can be opened and closed properly and will respond as intended in an emergency situation. Conducting these tests at regular intervals helps to identify any operational issues before they lead to system failures.

In contrast, other maintenance schedules such as weekly testing or monthly inspections, while important for different components, do not specifically address the operational integrity and readiness of control valves the way that regular operational testing does. Annual replacement is also impractical and unnecessary, as control valves can last many years if properly maintained. Regular operational testing ensures that the valves maintain their functionality and are prepared to operate when needed, which is the ultimate goal of maintenance and inspection strategies outlined in NFPA 25.