Take precautions with broken sprinkler heads

2/8/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire broke out in this home the sprinkler heads were faulty and DID NOT go off leading SERVPRO to the rescue !

A sprinkler line will continue to flow until the water is shut off. A typical sprinkler installation is capable of discharging between 20-40 gallons of water every minute. That’s enough water to cover more than 40 square feet of the gym floor in less than five minutes. The water will eventually seep into floorboards, causing the wood to expand. If water is left to sit long enough, the floorboards could buckle and any hopes of salvaging the hardwood are gone.

In an ideal world, every broken sprinkler head would be accidental. But we do also have accidents caused by kid’s even pets. Hanging lights, ceiling fans, wall clocks, and sprinkler heads are attractive targets for a group of under-stimulated and under-supervised kids. A random walkthrough of the facility at peak hours is a simple and effective supervision technique. Encourage members to notify staff if they witness raucous behavior and develop internal procedures to handle members who fail to follow rules.

Minimizing Damage from Broken Sprinkler Heads

If a water pipe bursts or a sprinkler head opens unexpectedly, you can save your facility thousands of dollars simply by knowing how to quickly locate and operate the water control systems. The first step is knowing where to find the controls.

The next step involves working with the contractor who services your suppression system. Have them explain your role in the event of an accidental discharge.

As a final note, initiate the evacuation plan immediately if the system engages because of a fire.