Monitoring of Sprinkler Valves and Fire Water Supply Systems: The UNI EN 12845 standard addresses both the requirements for valves and the issue of monitoring and supervisory alarms. Let’s examine how the points mentioned in the standard are connected and what this means, in practice, for the valves installed in fire water supply systems.
Table of Contents
The question (in simple terms)
Yes: The question concerns whether, according to UNI EN 12845, “remote” monitoring of the status (open/closed) of the valves installed inside the fire protection water supply system is required, and how this monitoring should be implemented in terms of alarm management.
The answer is derived by combining three references: Chapter 10 (Pumps), Chapter 15 (Valves), and Appendix H (Sprinkler System Monitoring).
Where UNI EN 12845 “comes into play” in the plant: Chapter 10 (Pumps)
UNI EN 12845, in Chapter 10—Pumps, section 10.5, states that:
- A shut-off valve must be installed on the piping of each main pump (with the exception mentioned for the case of an overflow tank);
- A check valve and a shut-off valve must be installed in the pump’s outlet line.
This passage is important because it clearly states that there are “critical” valves in the plant that are directly connected to the main pumps and are therefore potentially capable of affecting the plant’s water supply.
Valve Requirements: Chapter 15 (Valves) and Section 15.2
In Chapter 15—Valves, section 15.2, it is specified that all shut-off valves that could interrupt the water supply to the sprinklers must:
- close clockwise;
- be equipped with an indicator that clearly shows whether it is opening or closing;
- be secured in the correct position using a cable tie or padlock (or an equivalent method).
The logical connection is clear: the valves located in the control room— both on the inlet and outlet sides of the main pumps—“undoubtedly” have the capacity to shut off the water flow to the sprinklers. Therefore, in addition to being required by Chapter 10, they must also meet the specifications set forth in Section 15.2.
Sprinkler Valve Monitoring: What Appendix H (H.2.2) Requires
The topic of “remote monitoring” is explainedin Appendix H – Monitoring of Sprinkler Systems. Specifically, section H.2.2 states that:
- The position of all shut-off valves that, if closed, could prevent water from flowing to the sprinklers must be monitored, including the water supply valves, the control station, the auxiliary valves, and the isolation valves.
This is the transition from the valve’s “construction requirement” (Chapter 15) to the system’s “functional requirement”: it is not enough for the valve to be suitable and lockable; its position must also be monitored when closing it could prevent flow to the sprinklers.
The Purpose of Monitoring (H.1): Operability and Supervision Alarms
Section H.1 clarifies the purpose of sprinkler system monitoring:
- ensure the continuous operation of the system’s main functions (i.e., those whose failure could compromise automatic operation in the event of a fire);
- Trigger a monitoring alert to enable corrective action to be taken.
Therefore, “remote control” is not a generic concept: it is the idea that a change in the valve’s status—if it shifts to a condition that could compromise the system’s operation—must trigger a signal that can be processed by the dedicated system, so that corrective actions can be taken.
Practical implications for the water treatment plant: which valves and which alarm
Taking all of the above into account, the result is that the valves specified in section 10.5 (pumps), in addition to meeting the requirements of section 15.2 (valves), must be monitored; if they are closed, an alarm must be generated, transmitted, and managed by the supervisory system.
In summary, the rules require that the following be monitored remotely (via a supervisory system) at the power plant:
- the shut-off valves on the main pumps located on the inlet;
- the shut-off valves for the main pumps located at the Outlet;
and that, if a valve closes, an alarm is triggered.
A practical method for detecting ON/OFF status (butterfly valves): microswitches and an alarm control unit
To monitor the status (ON/OFF) of the valves—in the case of butterfly valves—an approach based on the following is proposed:
- use of two microswitches mounted as shown;
- connecting the microswitches to the alarm control unit of the corresponding main pump;
- From the control unit, the alarm signal (valve closed) is sent to the supervisory system.
This diagram consistently links the objective of Appendix H (monitoring position and generating a supervision alarm) with a practical method for collecting and forwarding the signal.
Conclusion
The UNI EN 12845 standard, which applies to shut-off valves in water distribution centers connected to the main pumps, leads to a clear conclusion: if closing the valve can prevent flow to the sprinklers, its position must be monitored, and closing the valve must trigger an alarm managed by the supervisory system. This monitoring complements the valve’s “physical” requirements (open/closed indication and locking in the correct position) with continuous functional oversight.
