Riser Cupboards That Pass Inspection vs. Ones That Just Look the Part

That red cabinet in the lobby, or stairwell, most likely doesn’t get much thought by property/building managers until an inspector walks through the door with a clipboard and a disappointed look. It’s typically too late by this time. What should have been noted years prior is now an inconvenience, headache, and expense.

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome? Riser cupboards are not fire engine red boxes waiting for someone to pay attention to their color and signage. They’re real life, operational components of a fire prevention/cupping system to give the firefighter’s nearest advantage the best access to proper equipment.

But therein lies one of the easiest traps many property owners fall into: compliance and looking compliant are not the same thing. A cupboard with the correct coloration, signage, and wear still is at risk of failing when the proverbial inspector opens the door and looks inside. When it comes to instalments, many times the devil is certainly in the details.

What Inspectors Look For

Visual compliance is one part of the inspection process, but inspectors have their fair share of criteria against which they measure the cupboards.

First, does the cupboard open? It sounds basic enough, but whether you have a painting leaning against it or a janitorial cart parked in front of it, an inspector will open it and see if a firefighter can get to the inlet at a moment’s notice. If a door is stopped because of an obstruction, it’s an immediate failure.

Is the door strong enough? The door is supposed to shut, just like any other door, but it’s also supposed to stay sealed during a blaze without jamming, requiring firefighters to have a key. Many older installations come with locks that require unique access or doors that have come rusted shut over time. Some doors flap open on hinges that barely allow them to stay attached. Moisture from leakage around the door frame creates internal damage to the equipment in as little as 48 hours.

It’s better for property managers to source quality Riser Cupboards designed for fire compliance than to fail regulations due to common misinstallation. Second is the actual dry riser inlet. Here, inspectors will note if it looks clean, properly linked, and sealed, meaning no gaps in connections that would allow water/external debris or chemicals/corrosion to invade. No one cares if the outside of the cupboard is pristine looking if what’s inside looks like it hasn’t been touched in ten years.

What Doesn’t Show Up Until Testing

What gets expensive for building owners who think they’re safe is that conclusions made after testing, visual inspections only discern so much. When it comes time for pressure testing – often yearly or after any construction that would impact riser access, it’s clear who’s been proactive and compliant about maintenance.

What happens during pressure testing? Water is moved through the dry riser systems to determine if there’s any blockage, leaks, or improperly placed joints/pipes/junctions. What’s unfortunate is that often at this point, valuable real estate has gone through expensive inspection to determine that everything seems fine, but what’s tested runs deeper than just a visual overview.

Example: If the riser cupboard was incorrectly installed, water damage at level and joints reveal themselves almost instantly. Joints that seem tight during visual inspections burst open from pressure; pipes that maintain no damage on external observation become stressed/compromised by sustained pressure.

Common Poor Installations

Some riser cupboards fail at inception because of poor planning or cheap parts. Thin metal used for doors corrodes faster than higher quality options; wood options swell easier than those which boast water resistance; improper installation sealing means that moisture holds inside the actual cabinet creating issues with equipment or rotting compartments.

Inside/outside sealing doesn’t accommodate framing properly; improper placements allow gaps between the dry riser inlet and where it feeds into walls instead of clean points of access which would otherwise serve as fire rated solutions. Measurements matter; it’s better to trust the pros than attempt to install on one’s own.

Location matters as well; while code requires certain placements of riser cupboards, sometimes high-traffic areas threaten something like a non-compliant boot getting kicked in or an object being pushed up against it. Other times, they may be placed near ongoing construction/remodel access points that get in the way.

What Really Makes a Difference

There’s a difference between those buildings which pass and those which don’t regardless of signifiers that boast code compliance but not necessarily active maintenance.

Buildings pass inspections time and again because staff/facilities managers regularly check these compartments and possess documentation; if it’s noted there’s peeling paint or some rust or even interior debris, it’s up to management to take this information and lessen bigger problems before they mount. This starts with documentation, a simple maintenance log could mitigate failure status.

There’s no documentation built around risk assessments determining whether the building itself has had action taken to address any issues. Other buildings lack direction because no one checks up on such compartments regularly, meaning when someone does, they’re in shock as to what they find (or don’t).

Quality materials make a difference too; managers who attempt to save a few dollars may lose thousands later on when their intention was to control construction costs didn’t pay off long-term for installation costs.

It might seem unnecessary expense during construction endeavors and fee adjustments but any trusted resource providing quality products meant to protect their investment now trump any shortcoming down the line where they’ll either need more parts/products replaced or fail time and time again regardless of other privileges afforded.

What’s It Cost When It Goes Wrong

It’s easy for building owners/managers to fail and for fire safety inspectors to call this an embarrassing development; it’s another thing all together when there are consequences tied to what’s gone wrong.

Insurance implications can escalate, for certain insurance groups require comprehensive coverage, all documented failures mean compliance tenets inside structures are explored further since these groups limit their own liability as best they can.

Legally speaking, liability exposure exists following arrests if something known not to work fails because of known problems due to maintenance reports called months (if not years) prior.

What’s more, temporary safety measures implemented mean fire watches, safety plans needing expedited repairs open up additional mandatory reports due to time imposed for safety (and at additional costs) than had compliant solutions found within pre-existing standards.

Ultimately riser cupboards are simple systems, they aren’t overly complicated, but if they’re installed incorrectly they’re only treated by their looks; without additional support from those details/internals/frequency of use, there are too many things going wrong relative to attention made inside/outside these compartments which would solve everything before an inspector arrived with their clipboard.