System and method for testing a fire suppression system

Abstract

At least one embodiment comprises a testing system for a fire suppression system which can comprise at least one fluid conduit having a first end and a second end with an isolating valve and at least one pressure regulating valve coupled to the conduit. A tap is coupled to the fluid conduit, and is positioned between the first end and the second end and be for selectively allowing fluid to flow out from the fluid conduit to allow fluid to flow past the pressure regulating valve. The process for testing a fire suppression system can comprise the following steps: connecting at least one first valve to a fluid conduit, disconnecting sprinkler heads from the fluid conduit, flowing water through the pressure regulating valve determining the flow rate through the pressure regulating valve, and determining the pressure downstream of the pressure regulating valve, stopping testing, and then reporting the results.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A testing system for a fire suppression system comprising:
 a) at least one fluid conduit having a first end and a second end;   b) at least one isolating valve coupled to said fluid conduit;   c) at least one pressure regulating valve coupled to said conduit;   d) at least one tap coupled to said fluid conduit, and positioned between said first end and said second end, said tap for selectively allowing fluid to flow out from said fluid conduit to allow fluid to flow past said pressure regulating valve.   
     
     
         2 . The testing system as in  claim 1 , wherein said fluid conduit is a plurality of pipes. 
     
     
         3 . The testing system as in  claim 2 , wherein said fluid conduit is configured to pass water along said conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The testing system as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one isolating valve comprises at least one first isolating valve and at least one second isolating valve, wherein said at least one pressure regulating valve is positioned between said at least one first isolating valve and said at least one second isolating valve. 
     
     
         5 . The testing system as in  claim 1 , wherein said fluid conduit comprises a sprinkler system that comprises a fire pump and a fire pump controller a gravity tank and a pressurized tank. 
     
     
         6 . The testing system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a test valve coupled along said at least one fluid conduit for selectively diverting fluid away from said second end of said fluid conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The testing system as in  claim 6 , wherein said test valve is a three-way valve is positioned after said pressure regulating valve (PRV) and before a first sprinkler positioned after said pressure regulating valve. 
     
     
         8 . The testing system as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one container, coupled to said fluid conduit and configured to receive fluid from said fluid conduit when said testing system is testing said pressure regulating valve. 
     
     
         9 . The testing system as in  claim 8 , wherein said at least one container further comprises at least one pressurizer configured to selectively pressurize said at least one container to selectively drain fluid from said at least one container after said pressure regulating valve has been tested. 
     
     
         10 . The testing system as in  claim 9 , further comprising at least one flow meter and at least one differential pressure sensor coupled in parallel along said at least one fluid conduit, said flow meter measuring a flow rate through said pressure regulating valve. 
     
     
         11 . The testing system as in  claim 9 , wherein said pressurizer comprises at least one air compressor configured to pressurize said at least one container, wherein the system further comprises at least one drain, said drain configured to drain fluid from said at least one container when fluid is drained from said at least one container. 
     
     
         12 . The testing system as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one occlusion container, configured to receive fluid from said at least one fluid conduit and to filter said fluid to separate particles from said fluid in said at least one occlusion container. 
     
     
         13 . A process for testing a fire suppression system comprising the following steps:
 a) connecting at least one first valve to a fluid conduit;   b) disconnecting sprinkler heads from said fluid conduit;   c) flowing water through the pressure regulating valve;   d) determining the flow rate through the pressure regulating valve;   e) determining the pressure downstream of the pressure regulating valve;   f) stopping testing; and   g) reporting the results.   
     
     
         14 . The process as in  claim 13 , wherein said step of connecting at least one first valve comprises connecting at least one three-way valve or test valve to the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The process as in  claim 13 , wherein said step of connecting at least one container to said at least one valve comprises connecting at least one pressurized container to said at least one first valve. 
     
     
         16 . The process as in  claim 13 , wherein said step of determining the pressure downstream of the pressure regulating valve comprises determining a pressure in a differential pressure sensor positioned adjacent to said pressure regulating valve. 
     
     
         17 . The process as in  claim 13 , wherein said step of determining a flow rate comprises determining a flow rate in a flow meter positioned downstream and adjacent to said pressure regulating valve. 
     
     
         18 . The process as in  claim 13 , further comprising coupling at least one container to said fluid conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The process as in  claim 18 , wherein said step of stopping testing occurs when said at least one container is filled with fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The process as in  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of pressurizing said at least one container to force said fluid from said at least one container so that said fluid drains from said at least one container. 
     
     
         21 . The process as in  claim 13 , further comprising the step of using a computer to determine whether to replace a pressure regulating valve by determining whether the pressure regulating valve meets preset flow criteria stored in memory in the computer. 
     
     
         22 . The process as in  claim 21 , wherein said step of determining whether to replace the pressure regulating valve comprises determining whether the testing values in terms of pressure are within a preset pressure range stored in the computer. 
     
     
         23 . The process as in  claim 21 , wherein said step of determining whether to replace the pressure regulating valve comprises determining whether the testing values in terms of flow rate are within a flow rate range stored in the computer.