Maintain Fire Sprinklers To Prevent Accidental Activation

9/30/2019 (Permalink)

Water loss in a Gladstone, TN church

Smoke detectors are widely used by businesses to protect against fire damage, but sprinklers are, of course, more effective at putting out fires. While a smoke detector sounds an alarm, fire sprinklers actually disperse water over the affected areas. Unfortunately, without proper sprinkler maintenance, this protective tool could actually lead to water damage as gallons of water spray into the building.

The Value of Sprinklers

To understand how to prevent damage, it's best to understand how the systems work. Sprinkler heads are generally connected to a system of pipes inside walls or ceilings and eventually connect to the building's water main. The goal of the system is to quickly move water to the site of an emergency. This should put out any flames before the fire has a chance to spread and reduces the amount of smoke in the building, making it easier for occupants to evacuate the building.

Heat Sensors May Cause Accidental Activation

When fire sprinklers are exposed to enough heat, valves along the system are released and the system goes off. Many systems are set to go off when temperatures reach about 154 degrees Fahrenheit. However, these systems don't recognize the difference between sources of heat. One important element of sprinkler maintenance is making sure that heat-emitting objects, such as lighting and heaters, are not positioned near the heat sensors.

Extreme Temperatures, Corrosion, and Defects

Extreme temperatures could also cause sprinklers to go off at the wrong time. In addition to too much heat near the sensors, very cold temperatures could cause pipes to freeze. Another cause of accidental sprinkler activation is pipe corrosion. If your business is located in a naturally humid environment, the high levels of moisture in the air could cause corrosion. The use of chemicals or cleansers could also lead to corrosion. Finally, manufacturing defects could cause the system to trigger.

Proper sprinkler maintenance is the key to preventing accidental activation and a visit from your Gladstone, TN, water damage cleanup and remediation experts. Learn more about the best maintenance steps to protect your business from expensive fire sprinkler accidents.