Get Fire Protection Impairment Plan Template

Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. NFPA 25 is the baseline for inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems. Compliance helps maximize system integrity to avoid failure and ensure fast, effective response in a fire emergency.

Chapter 5 of NFPA 25, Standard for The Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, is where all the tasks and frequency requirements for sprinkler systems can be found.

Impairment: A condition where a fire protection system or unit or portion thereof is out of order, and the condition can result in the fire protection system or unit not functioning in a fire event.

Chapter 15 of NFPA 25 includes the requirements for what must be included in an impairment program.

Chapter 14 of NFPA 25 is organized into four sections: 14.1 General, 14.2 Assessment of Internal Condition of Pipe, 14.3 Obstruction Investigation and Prevention, and 14.4. Ice Obstruction. Section 14.3 is only triggered when there is some indicator that the system may be, or may become, compromised internally.

These forms are intended to help document and manage your protective system's impairment through completion.

Chapter 4 outlines the general requirements of the standards, which includes the building owner's responsibilities. Most owners are not aware of NFPA 25, nor their responsibilities contained in chapter 4. This chapter has a great deal of information and is one of the most important chapters in the standard.

An impairment occurs when a fire protection or detection system, fire alarm system or other system designed to maintain the fire resistance of the building element or structure is taken out of service, either wholly or in part, planned or unplanned.