Don’t Wait for Winter: Proactive Fire Safety Tips

Winter doesn’t cause burst pipes, procrastination does. When cold snaps hit, property owners who delay fire safety maintenance often face frozen pipes, water damage, fire watch costs, and downtime that could have been avoided.

The good news? Preparing early is straightforward and affordable. In this blog, Radius Fire partner Dave Baxter shares practical tips on winterizing fire protection systems, the risks of waiting too long, and why proactive planning is one of the smartest investments a business can make.

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Why Winterization Matters

Many buildings use dry sprinkler systems in areas exposed to freezing temperatures, such as underground parkades, outdoor canopies, or unheated spaces. These systems hold pressurized air in the pipes to keep water blocked at the valve, and when a sprinkler head opens, the drop in air pressure causes the valve to open and release water into the system. However, water can collect inside through routine testing of the system and condensation, and without proper winterization, that trapped water can freeze and burst pipes.

The biggest mistake Dave sees: property owners waiting until it’s already cold before scheduling winterization.

• Frozen pipes can cause uncontrolled water discharge.
• Systems must be shut down, leaving the property on fire watch until repairs are made.
• Widespread cold snaps overwhelm service providers, creating delays.

“When it’s really cold, pipes aren’t just freezing at your site - they’re freezing everywhere,” Dave explains. “That means longer waits and bigger risks.”

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What Is Winterization?

Winterization is a preventative maintenance process for dry sprinkler systems. It involves:

• Draining low-point drains to remove residual water.
• Checking the air compressor that maintains system pressure and it’s operating properly.
• Conducting a visual inspection of the dry sprinkler system to ensure reliability through winter.

Fire protection companies typically perform winterization every fall. Best practice: book your winterization in September or October, before temperatures drop.

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The Risks of Skipping Maintenance

Neglecting winterization can lead to:

• Burst pipes from frozen water.
• Major water and property damage.
• Icy hazards in parkades and outdoor spaces.
• Expensive fire watch costs until systems are restored.
• Repair bills exceeding $10,000 - compared to a few hundred dollars for proactive service.

Dave recalls one underground parkade that ignored repeated winterization reminders. During a cold snap, pipes froze and burst, flooding cars and creating an “ice rink” in the facility. The result: days on fire watch and thousands in unexpected expenses.

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Additional Fire Safety Tips for Winter

Even if your building doesn’t have a dry sprinkler system, winter brings other hazards:

• Keep heat on in unoccupied buildings with wet sprinkler systems to prevent frozen pipes.
• Maintain power to fire safety systems - dry systems rely on compressors, and alarms require electricity.
• Be cautious with heaters and holiday décor. Portable heaters left unattended or overloaded outlets can quickly start a fire.

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Inspection & Maintenance Schedule

By code, fire sprinkler systems require multiple levels of inspection:

• Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annual, and Annual inspections.
• Every 3 years: full trip test of dry systems (introduces water, requires extra winterization effort) and air leakage tests on the dry systems (verifies that air pressure loss is within acceptable limits)
• Every 5 years: internal pipe inspections, fire department connection hydrostatic tests and standpipe flow tests.

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Why Choose Radius Fire?

Radius Fire stands apart with its ASTTBC-recognized training program, the only local program offering hands-on training in a dedicated fire protection training center.

This ensures every technician working on your system is highly trained, detail-oriented, and equipped to identify potential issues before they become costly problems.

“A $250 visit in the fall can save you thousands in repairs, downtime, and fire watch,” Dave notes.

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Key Takeaways for Business Owners

• If your building has a dry sprinkler system, schedule winterization every fall - by October 31 at the latest.
• Don’t turn off heat or power in buildings with fire protection systems.
• Stick to your inspection schedule to stay code-compliant and protected.
• Proactive service is far less costly than emergency response.
• Ensure you are authorizing deficiency repairs.

Winter brings enough challenges; fire protection failures shouldn’t be one of them. By scheduling winterization and regular inspections now, you’ll avoid emergencies later and protect both your property and your bottom line.

Don’t wait for the first cold snap. Contact Radius Fire today to book your winterization and keep your business safe this season.