Untangling the NFPA 5-Year Fire Inspection: Why One Partner Makes All the Difference

Every building owner and property manager knows the routine of annual fire inspections. But every five years, things get a lot more complicated. The NFPA 25 standard requires a deep dive into your fire sprinkler system - an internal inspection that means opening up valves, checking the inside of pipes, and making sure no corrosion, debris, or blockages are lurking out of sight.

It’s a critical safeguard for fire safety, but it’s also one of the most disruptive and complex compliance checks you’ll face.

Why the 5-Year Inspection Is So Complex

Unlike an annual inspection, which is mostly visual and functional, the 5-year inspection means taking parts of your fire protection system apart. Contractors may need to:

• Drain and open pipes to see what’s happening inside

• Check valves, gauges, and backflow preventers

• Flush out sediment or corrosion

• Perform hydrostatic tests on fire department connections

• Replace damaged or worn components

It’s not just sprinklers, either. In many buildings, alarms, pumps, and suppression systems are all tied together. Getting these systems tested and documented to satisfy the fire marshal requires careful coordination, technical know-how, and a lot of time.

5-year inspections can also cause disruption to tenants and operations (and parts of the system need to be pulled offline), uncertain cost (as many issues aren’t obvious until the inspection begins), and require extensive documentation.

Why a Single Vendor Matters

The biggest risk in these inspections isn’t what you find in the pipes. It's the complexity of coordinating all the moving parts, and oftentimes multiple different vendors. A single, full-scope vendor eliminates the finger-pointing and scheduling nightmares.

With one partner:

• All systems are inspected in a coordinated sequence

• Reports come in a single, consistent package

• You get one schedule, one invoice, and one accountable team

• Long-term system knowledge is captured in one place, making the next inspection easier

It’s the difference between managing a dozen moving pieces and having one partner handle it all.

Our Recommendation: Battalion One

At Property Atlas, we connect property managers with vendors who actually make your life easier. When it comes to the 5-year fire inspection, we recommend Battalion One.

They’re a full-service fire protection company based right here in the Bay Area, and they handle everything: sprinklers, alarms, extinguishers, standpipes, pumps, and more. In other words, they’re exactly the type of “all-in-one” partner you want when the 5-year inspection rolls around. Click to read more about Battalion One and why we recommend them.

Preparing for Your Next 5-Year

If your building is approaching the 5-year milestone, now’s the time to plan ahead:

• Check your records: make sure past inspection reports are accessible

• Confirm access: clear paths to risers, valves, and mechanical rooms

• Budget for contingencies: assume some surprises inside the pipes

• Choose the right partner: ideally, one who can manage every part of your system

The NFPA 5-year inspection doesn’t have to be a dreaded event. With the right vendor on your side, it’s just another compliance milestone you can check off with confidence.

Meet Battalion One

Brought to you by Property Atlas.