Dry risers, sprinklers, fire shutters and curtains, managed by FS
Some fire safety systems need a dedicated specialist. We use approved specialist contractors for dry and wet risers, sprinklers and water mist, and fire shutters and curtains. We manage every visit, every report and every defect ourselves, so you deal with one contractor and get one set of records.
Water at height, ready when the fire service connects
A dry riser lets firefighters pump water from the street to landing valves on upper floors. Nobody uses it day to day, so faults stay hidden until the moment it is needed. Missing blank caps, seized valves, damaged inlet boxes and pressure loss are the usual problems.
BS 9990 sets the routine: a visual inspection every six months and a full wet pressure test every year. Our riser partners hold BAFE SP105 certification for the servicing and maintenance of dry and wet risers.
- Inlet breeching valve, non-return valves, drain valve and air release valve checked and serviced
- Every landing valve opened and closed, then left closed, strapped and locked
- System flushed, charged and held under pressure while each joint and valve is checked for leaks
- Flow test from the topmost outlet, with gauge readings recorded on the certificate
- Washers, blank caps and chains renewed, and cabinets, glazing and locks checked
- Wet risers: pump sets, tanks and landing valve pressures serviced to the same standard
It is taken out of use, padlocked and labelled out of order. You receive a written report of the remedial work, the parts and the cost, and the system is re-tested once the repair is done.
Suppression systems kept serviceable, tested and documented
A sprinkler system is only as reliable as its water supply, valves and pumps. The heads you see are a small part of it. Residential and domestic systems are maintained to BS 9251. Commercial and industrial systems follow BS EN 12845. Our sprinkler partners hold LPS 1048 approval as sprinkler contractors.
- Visual check of valves, pipework and heads for leaks, damage, paint or obstructions
- Flow test at the drain and test valve, or the highest test point, against the design flow
- Stop valves, gauges, flow switches and alarm valves checked for free, correct operation
- Pump sets, tanks and standby supplies serviced and run-tested
- Spare heads and spanner cabinet checked and topped up
- Log book updated and any defects reported with a priority and a quote
A sprinkler activation should show on the fire alarm panel. Because FS maintains fire alarms, our own engineers can attend the flow test and prove the interface between the two systems in the same visit.
We also manage water mist systems, maintained to BS 8458 for residential use and BS 8489 for commercial use, through a specialist water mist contractor on our approved list.
Barriers that must drop on the alarm, every time
Fire shutters and fire and smoke curtains stay open until a fire signal tells them to close. Then they hold back fire or channel smoke. They rely on batteries, motors, release gear and the fire alarm link working together. Active fire curtains are maintained to BS 8524-2, at least once a year.
- Mains isolation and lock-off confirmed safe for maintenance
- Batteries load-tested, dated and their connections checked
- Each curtain and shutter dropped on a simulated alarm, then reset
- Curtain fabric, guides and smoke seals inspected for damage
- Shutters checked for manual opening, and self-test and release devices proven
- A time-stamped photo of the control panel showing a healthy system at the end of the visit
A barrier only closes if the alarm tells it to. A failed relay, release unit or out-of-date cause-and-effect can stop it. FS engineers test that link to BS 7273-4, so the barrier and the alarm are signed off together.
The same standard as our own engineers, checked the same way
Every specialist we use goes through the same five stages. Our Contracts and Maintenance Manager owns the process, and the results are recorded in Mango QMS so we can show you a full history for any partner.
Vet
A pre-qualification questionnaire covering technical capability, capacity, accreditations, ISO 9001, FIA codes of practice, insurance, health and safety record, DBS checks and references. Directors review every application.
Agree
Before work starts the partner signs our compliance agreement and agrees a service level agreement with KPIs that mirror your contract.
Induct
Contract-specific induction, RAMS and site access briefings. Partners join our toolbox talks, and a training needs analysis closes any skills gap.
Monitor
Formal audits, announced and unannounced spot checks, site checklists, monthly and quarterly reviews and an annual performance review. The questionnaire is re-issued to keep records current.
Improve or replace
If a partner falls short, they must produce an improvement plan, which we review weekly for at least three months. If performance doesn't recover, we replace them from our approved list.
What we measure
- Resident and client satisfaction
- Work completed to programme
- Response and completion times
- Quality and accuracy of work and paperwork
- Health and safety
What you see
- Visits booked, attended and closed on FS systems
- Certificates and reports issued through FS
- Defects raised with a priority and a quote, tracked to close-out
- Partner certificates and insurances kept in date
Fewer gaps between systems
Common questions
Does FS carry out sprinkler and riser work with its own engineers?
No. This work is delivered by approved specialist contractors who hold the right certification for it: LPS 1048 for sprinklers and BAFE SP105 for risers. FS manages the contract, the quality checks, the reporting and any interface with your fire alarm.
How often should a dry riser be tested?
BS 9990 recommends a visual inspection every six months and a full wet pressure test every twelve months. Wet risers need more frequent checks of their pumps and tanks.
How often do fire and smoke curtains need servicing?
BS 8524-2 sets out the maintenance regime for active fire curtains, with a full service at least once a year. Busy or critical buildings may need more frequent visits.
Can you take over systems another contractor has been servicing?
Yes. We start by reviewing the asset records and log books, then carry out a baseline inspection so you have an accurate defect list from day one.
