Fire Sprinkler Inspection
Every commercial fire sprinkler system in California must be inspected, tested and tagged on the schedule set by NFPA 25 and Title 19. APFE Corp. is a C-16 licensed fire protection contractor providing quarterly, annual and five-year fire sprinkler inspections for commercial buildings, warehouses, retail centers, restaurants, apartment buildings, condos and HOAs across Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
We inspect, tag and file the report. Call for a same-day quote.
Licensed & insured. CSLB License #861238 (C-10 Electrical, C-16 Fire Protection, C-36 Plumbing). Serving Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
Fire sprinkler inspection & testing we perform
Annual inspection
Full NFPA 25 visual and operational inspection of risers, control valves, gauges, alarms, sprinkler heads, hangers and piping, with main drain test and alarm test.
Quarterly inspection
Waterflow alarm, supervisory and valve checks required every 3 months on most wet and dry systems.
5-year / Title 19 certification
Internal pipe inspection, gauge replacement, obstruction investigation and the five-year certification tag.
Backflow & fire line testing
Testing of fire-line backflow preventers and double-check assemblies where required by your water district.
Standpipes & fire pumps
Standpipe flow tests and fire pump churn and annual flow tests.
Deficiency repair & re-tag
Head replacement, gauge replacement, valve repair and everything else needed to clear a yellow or red tag.
NFPA 25 inspection frequencies
| Item | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Control valves, gauges, alarm devices (visual) | Weekly / monthly (owner) – quarterly (contractor) |
| Waterflow alarm test, main drain test | Quarterly / annually |
| Full annual inspection of heads, pipe, hangers, FDC, valves | Annually |
| Internal pipe inspection, gauge replacement, 5-year certification | Every 5 years (Title 19) |
| Dry-pipe full trip test | Every 3 years |
| Sprinkler head sample testing | 50 years standard, 20 years fast-response, 10 years dry/harsh environment |
Why property managers use APFE for sprinkler compliance
- C-16 fire protection license – we are the contractor of record, not a middleman.
- Alarm + sprinkler + extinguisher + exit lights in one visit – one report, one invoice, one phone number.
- Reports filed correctly so you are not chasing paperwork before the fire marshal’s visit.
- Repairs quoted on the spot and scheduled quickly so the system is re-tagged.
Service Area
APFE Corp. is based in Orange County and sends licensed technicians throughout Southern California:
- Orange County – Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Tustin, Brea, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest
- Los Angeles County – Los Angeles, Long Beach, Torrance, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Whittier, Downey, Norwalk
- San Diego County – San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido, Chula Vista
- Inland Empire – Riverside, Corona, Temecula, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino
Outside these areas? Call us – we also take on work in Ventura and Kern counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must a commercial fire sprinkler system be inspected in California?
NFPA 25 and California Title 19 require quarterly, annual and five-year inspections. The annual inspection is the one most fire departments ask to see; the five-year certification (internal pipe inspection and gauge replacement) is required by Title 19 and is often what triggers a notice from the fire department.
What is a sprinkler red tag or yellow tag?
After an inspection, California requires a tag on the riser. A white/green tag means the system passed. A yellow tag means non-critical deficiencies were found. A red tag means the system is impaired and the fire department is notified. We correct deficiencies and re-tag the system.
Do you file the report with the fire department?
Yes. We complete the required inspection report (including the AES / Title 19 forms where applicable) and provide copies to you and, where the jurisdiction requires it, to the fire department or their compliance-reporting system.
Do you inspect residential sprinklers?
Our inspection work is primarily commercial, apartment, condo and HOA systems. We are happy to look at a residential 13D system if it is leaking or needs repair – see our sprinkler leak repair page.
What happens if the inspection finds problems?
The report lists each deficiency with a repair quote. Most common items – corroded or painted heads, missing escutcheons, failed gauges, control valves that need exercising – can be fixed on a follow-up visit, and we re-tag the system when complete.
Annual, quarterly and 5-year inspections – Orange County, LA, San Diego, Inland Empire.