scope:

This document establishes the minimum requirements for the periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems and the actions to undertake when changes in occupancy, use, process, materials, hazard, or water supply that potentially impact the performance of the water-based system are planned or identified.

The scope of NFPA 25 is intended to help users determine if they are using the correct standard and summarizes what the document addresses.

Several important terms are used in this section. Minimum requirements are the basis for the rules that this standard sets forth. However, nothing prohibits the user from exceeding them. Periodic establishes that the requirements are performed on a set frequency. Those frequencies are defined in 3.7.1. The phrase actions to undertake signifies that further requirements are provided in the document. Lastly, the phrase planned or identified implies the following: (1) there are requirements that are meant to be observed as the changes are planned, and (2) these actions are meant to be followed anytime those changes are discovered, even if they were intended to be dealt with beforehand. Primary among these is the requirement that the owner have the system evaluated before making changes to the use, occupancy, hazard, or water supply. See 4.1.6 and 4.1.7 for more detailed information.

The minimum requirements specified in NFPA 25 must be met in order for a system to comply with this standard. Also, Section 4.7 permits alternative means of compliance using a performance-based program that could result in less frequent ITM activities.