Commercial fire protection sprinkler systems are monitored very much the same way that any intrusion or fire alarm is monitored utilizing a control panel and a series of flow and pressure switches as well as tamper switches for the gate valves that turn the water on or off. Some sprinkler systems are used in conjunction with other fire detection equipment found in automatic fire alarm systems and some of these systems consist of only the sprinkler switches that are installed by the sprinkler company. If someone turns a valve, if air pressure in the system drops (dry systems are filled with air which is at a slightly higher pressure than the water pressure entering the system holding the water back) or if water flows past a switch, the alarm panel notifies our central station of the occurrence. These systems are tested at regular intervals for proper operation.