Which NFPA standard covers design, installation, and modification of sprinkler systems, while which covers inspection, testing, and maintenance?

• A. NFPA 13 covers design, installation, and modification; NFPA 25 covers inspection, testing, and maintenance.
• B. NFPA 25 covers design; NFPA 13 covers maintenance.
• C. NFPA 13 covers materials; NFPA 25 covers electrical systems.
• D. NFPA 13 covers alarm systems; NFPA 25 covers building code.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how NFPA standards divide responsibilities by the life cycle of a sprinkler system. NFPA 13 is the standard used for designing, installing, and making modifications to water-based sprinkler systems. It guides how pipes are sized and routed, where sprinklers go, and how the system is put together so it will perform correctly in a fire. NFPA 25 covers the ongoing care of those systems—inspection, testing, and maintenance—to ensure everything remains functional over time. It specifies what to check, how often to test, and who may perform those tasks, so that the system stays reliable.

The described pairing that assigns design to NFPA 13 and maintenance to NFPA 25 is the correct relationship. The notion that NFPA 13 deals with materials or NFPA 25 with electrical systems doesn’t reflect the actual scopes of these standards.