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Philadelphia sprinkler inspection and backflow testing: what building owners need

Updated · General information, not legal advice

Philadelphia has rules that go beyond the rest of Pennsylvania. Two city agencies matter for sprinkler systems: Licenses and Inspections (L&I), which licenses the contractors, and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), which regulates backflow prevention on fire lines.

Use an L&I-licensed fire suppression contractor

Companies that install, alter, repair, test, service, maintain, inspect, or certify fire suppression systems in Philadelphia need a Fire Suppression Systems Contractor license from L&I. The company must employ at least one full-time worker who holds a Fire Suppression Systems Worker license. It must also employ at least one full-time person with a NICET Level II or higher certificate in the relevant category, or a Pennsylvania professional engineer with relevant experience. The license is renewed every year.

Before you sign, look the company up with L&I's contractor lookup tool. It lists actively licensed contractors and any licensing violations.

Backflow testing on fire lines

PWD's cross-connection control rules require backflow prevention assemblies on fire suppression systems to be tested when installed, after repairs, and at least every 12 months. The test must be done by a City Certified Backflow Prevention Technician for Fire Suppression Systems. Results go to PWD on its form within the deadline in the PWD rules, so ask your contractor to confirm the report was filed.

Inspection intervals

For sprinkler inspection and testing intervals, expect NFPA 25: quarterly, annual, and five-year tasks. Confirm the edition and any local amendments with L&I or the Philadelphia Fire Department.

Checklist

  • Contractor shows an active L&I Fire Suppression Contractor license.
  • Backflow test completed in the last 12 months by a PWD-registered fire suppression backflow technician, with the report filed.
  • NFPA 25 quarterly and annual reports on file, with deficiencies tracked to correction.
  • Five-year internal assessment scheduled.

Note

Frequencies below summarize recent editions of NFPA 25. Your jurisdiction may enforce an older or newer edition, and your insurer or the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) can require more. Treat this as a checklist to discuss with your contractor, not as legal advice.

Find contractors near you

New York

New Jersey

Connecticut

Pennsylvania

Delaware

Maryland

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Sources

  1. City of Philadelphia, Get a Fire Suppression Systems Contractor License
  2. City of Philadelphia, Find a licensed contractor
  3. Philadelphia Water Department, Cross Connection Control manual
  4. Philadelphia Water Department, Backflow technician information
  5. NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems (NFPA)

NFPA standards are available to read free online from NFPA. Requirements depend on the edition your jurisdiction adopts; confirm with your authority having jurisdiction.

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