Third Time's The Charm: N-O Sprinklers Pass Pressure Test

Less than 24 hours after twice failing a pressure test of the new fire sprinkler system, Neligh-Oakdale has now passed the same test.

Interim Superintendent Bill Kuester said, "The outside fire underground line at Neligh-oakdale schools passed the hydrostatic pressure test this afternoon by the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office. The State Fire Marshal is scheduled to perform the inside sprinkler test in the basement on Monday, August 17."

No other details were provided into why the test failed on Monday.

Board members were told Monday that the failure was probably due to an underground leak. John Wieczorek, district manager for Ahern Fire Protection of Omaha, said both in an email and via the conference call Monday night that at minimum, the water line must pass a hydrostatic test of 200 psi for 2 hours. The results of the test performed was a loss of 12 psi after 90 minutes of testing. 

Not passing the test raised several concerns for the district, including where to put students if basement classrooms and the old gym were not able to be occupied by the first day of classes. 

Occupancy is not guaranteed until the fire marshal gives the OK, but that appears to be more likely considering the pressure test passed Tuesday afternoon.