NFPA 25 Standard

Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. You can read more or download the guide

Why Adopt?

NFPA 25 Should be on Your Code Adoption To-Do List

If your jurisdiction has not yet adopted NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, that’s a good place to start.  Referenced in the Model Building and Fire Codes, this widely used national consensus standard is adopted in many states and is an important component in your suite of sprinkler system requirements.  Sprinkler usage is growing in most properties and many jurisdictions prefer to establish the requirements of NFPA 25 through specific adoption, as opposed to through reference via the Life Safety Code.

The first edition of NFPA 25 was issued in 1992 and it is now in its 2017 Edition.  The standard addresses minimum requirements for water-based fire protection systems, including sprinkler, standpipe and hose, fixed water spray, foam water, and other systems, both land-based and marine.  The inspection, testing and maintenance requirements in the standard represent the minimum necessary.

NFPA 25 outlines responsibilities of the building owner or owner’s representative, detailing specifics for care of varied systems through separate chapters, including those addressing private fire service mains, fire pumps and water storage tanks.  Additional chapters deal with Obstruction Investigation and Impairments.  Annexes to the standard include explanatory materials, forms and other useful information.

Learn more:

NFPA offers free FAQs on NFPA 25 by going online at: www.nfpa.org/Codes/Interpretations/FAQ25/FAQ25.asp.

NFPA 25 is available for purchase from NFPA online at www.nfpa.org/catalog.  Also available is the NFPA 25 Handbook, which combines the complete standard with supplementary text, case studies, reproducible forms and more.