Fire sprinkler valve tags
NFPA 13 asks for permanently marked identification signs on sprinkler control, drain and test connection valves, made of weatherproof metal or rigid plastic and secured with corrosion-resistant wire, chain or another approved means. These are rigid engraved plastic tags in red and white, ready to order. Your fire protection designer and the authority having jurisdiction decide the wording and whether a tag suits its location.
Control, drain and test valves
3″ × 1½″ rectangles unless noted. Change the zone, floor or riser on the bottom line.
Sprinkler control valve
Main drain
Auxiliary drain
Inspector’s test
Alarm test
Dry pipe valve
Preaction valve
Deluge valve
Standpipe control valve
Fire pump test header
Numbered sprinkler valve (2″ round)
Fire service shut-off (octagon)
What the standards ask for
NFPA 13, the sprinkler installation standard the building codes in Canada and the US refer to, asks for an identification sign on every control valve, drain valve and test connection valve. It asks for the sign to be permanently marked, made of weatherproof metal or rigid plastic, and fixed with corrosion-resistant wire, chain or another approved means.
NFPA 25, the inspection, testing and maintenance standard, has the inspector check at every control valve inspection that the valve has appropriate identification. A missing or unreadable tag is a finding.
Neither standard gives the wording. Most designers name the valve’s job (CONTROL VALVE, MAIN DRAIN, INSPECTOR'S TEST) and the area it serves (ZONE 3, FLOOR 2, RISER 1), so the right valve is closed first time.
We describe what the standards ask for; we don’t certify tags. Your fire protection designer and the authority having jurisdiction decide what is accepted. Ask us before ordering tags for outdoor or unheated locations.
How big do the words engrave?
Letter heights from the engine. Longer words engrave smaller to fit the tag.
| Wording | Tag | Top line | Main line | Bottom line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPRINKLER / CONTROL VALVE / ZONE 1 | Rectangle 2½″ × 1¼″ | 1/4″ | 7/32″ | 1/4″ |
| Rectangle 3″ × 1½″ | 9/32″ | 1/4″ | 9/32″ | |
| Rectangle 4″ × 2″ | 3/8″ | 11/32″ | 3/8″ | |
| MAIN DRAIN | Rectangle 2½″ × 1¼″ | — | 9/32″ | — |
| Rectangle 3″ × 1½″ | — | 11/32″ | — | |
| Rectangle 4″ × 2″ | — | 15/32″ | — | |
| INSPECTOR'S / TEST / ZONE 1 | Rectangle 2½″ × 1¼″ | 1/4″ | 7/16″ | 1/4″ |
| Rectangle 3″ × 1½″ | 9/32″ | 17/32″ | 9/32″ | |
| Rectangle 4″ × 2″ | 3/8″ | 23/32″ | 3/8″ |
Hardware
Each tag can come with a brass bead chain, brass jack chain and S-hook, brass S-hook or nylon cable tie, one per tag, listed on your quote. Check with your authority having jurisdiction that the hardware you pick meets “corrosion-resistant” for the location.
Tag the sprinkler room in one order
Control, drain and test valve tags, numbered sprinkler valve tags and the valve chart, all from one list.