Page 13 - The EDGE Fall 2025

LOSS CONTROL

BY ALEX PIERSON
Fire Risers: A Critical Safety Mechanism

for Buildings
Alex Pierson
Introduction
Fire risers link a building’s water supply to its
sprinkler system, ensuring that water is delivered
effectively to sprinkler heads during a fire. The
reliability of these systems depends heavily on
regular inspection, testing, and maintenance
(ITM). Without proper care, fire risers can
malfunction, leading to catastrophic property
losses and jeopardizing the safety of facility
occupants.

To illustrate, according to the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), 79 percent
of sprinkler failures are due to systems being
accidentally turned off, damaged, or inadequately
maintained. A single oversight, such as a closed
valve or corroded pipe, can render an entire
sprinkler system ineffective during an emergency.

Trust data supports this conclusion as well. In
the last decade, the Trust has paid approximately
$2.5 million in losses directly caused by
malfunctioning and corroded fire risers. The Characteristics of a Well-Maintained Fire
average loss per occurrence exceeds $100,000, Riser System
underscoring the significant financial and safety The signs of properly maintained fire risers are
risks of poorly maintained systems. evident in their environment, their components,

and their performance:
In Arizona schools, regular inspections governed • Cleanliness and easy access: The area
by state fire codes ensure that these critical surrounding the fire riser should be clean,
systems meet rigorous standards. Before exploring free of debris, and easily accessible for
the inspection process in detail, it’s helpful to maintenance and emergency access. Clutter or
understand the visual and operational features of obstructions can delay critical actions during
a fire riser in good condition an emergency.

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