A fire protection system includes a pipe system in fluid communication with a water source. A local processing unit is operatively coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader antenna. Sensors monitoring a sensor area for the presence of a fire are in electrical communication with the local processing unit. Fluid distribution devices in fluid communication with the pipe system are configured to deliver water from the water source to the sensor area. An RFID tag apparatus is coupled to one of the fluid distribution devices and includes an RFID tag antenna positioned within the pipe system and is configured to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals to and from the RFID reader antenna and local processing unit, through the pipe system.