Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service are dedicated to ensuring that firefighters have a ready supply of water available to deal with any incident.
Where dry riser facilities are provided within buildings, for this purpose, we are able to offer our specialist inspection, testing and maintenance expertise to help building owners ensure that the equipment is available for emergency use if it is ever needed.
Dry rising fire mains should be checked every six months to ensure that all valves are fully serviceable and a wet pressure test should be carried out annually to ensure that there is no leakage in line with the procedure laid down in British Standard 9990:2015.
For details of our charges for this service please contact the Water Officer by email
water.officer@fire.norfolk.gov.uk or call 0300 1231165
Six-monthly inspections
This is a dry visual inspection of the inlet and each outlet. All inlets, outlets, landing wheel valves, and washers are checked to ensure they are in a satisfactory working condition. Where necessary washers, blanking caps and straps etc will be supplied and fitted at the time of the test (at an additional charge) to comply with British Standard.’
Annual wet pressure test
This test ensures that water can be passed through the system under pressure, with no leaks, and a static pressure reading is recorded. In order to comply with the relevant British Standard the test includes the riser being charged with water at 12 bar pressure and held for 15 minutes without leakage.
Inability to sustain effective fire-fighting jets from the top or furthest outlets, or any undue pressure loss in the rising main (after allowing for any height involved) is highlighted for investigation.
All inlets, outlets, landing wheel valves, and washers are checked to ensure they are in a satisfactory working condition and that the inlets and outlets are compatible with fire service equipment and readily accessible. Where necessary, washers, blanking caps and straps etc. will be supplied and fitted at the time of the test (at an additional charge) to comply with British Standard.
In addition, all valves will be worked, outlet-sealing washers will be inspected and the operation of lugs, non-return valves and air valves will be checked
Only a flow and pressure test can confirm that water will be delivered as expected when the riser is called upon in an emergency.
The test carried out by Norfolk Fire Service ensures that, in addition to the static pressure test, where two jets are operating from the top, or furthest outlet, a running pressure of 2.5 bars would still be available in the system.