3 Ways To Prevent Accidental Fire Sprinkler Activation

4/11/2018 (Permalink)

Fire sprinklers are lifesavers, but only when they're functioning properly. When they go off accidentally, sprinklers can cause hundreds—sometimes even thousands—of dollars in commercial property damage. Fortunately, proper sprinkler maintenance can prevent most accidental activations in Franklin, KY. Here's how to help ensure your systems only activate when you need them to.

1. Avoid High Temperatures

Contrary to popular belief, sprinklers typically activate when they're exposed to high temperatures, not when they're exposed to smoke. Therefore, it can be important to keep heat sources away from your sprinkler. Here are some common sources:

*Hearth fires
*Strong lights
*Heat Lamps
*Candles Ovens and stoves

Consider these heat sources before installing your system. If any are hot enough to trigger your sprinkler (roughly 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 54 degrees Celsius), separate them. Doing so can greatly reduce your risk of accidental activation.

2. Prepare for Cold Temperatures

Just like hot temperatures, cold temperatures can lead to accidental sprinkler leakages. That's because when water freezes, it expands. If that frozen water is inside a confined space (your sprinkler's pipe, for instance), it will often break whatever's holding it.

Follow cold-weather sprinkler maintenance best practices. For starters, install insulation materials for your sprinkler pipes, such as foam sleeves. Also, keeping consistent heat throughout your building will often preclude water in pipes from freezing. That doesn't mean pointing intense lights at the pipes—you already know that's a mistake. Just keep the general temperature of the building above freezing.

3. Keep Sprinkler Piping Clear

Piping for fire sprinklers is made to put out fires; it's not meant for use as a pull-up bar. This may sound funny, but many accidental sprinkler activations occur when people assume pipes hold more weight than they truly can. Never allow anyone to hang anything on sprinkler pipes. Though they may appear sturdy, these pipes aren't usually made to support the weight of a human body.

For residents of Franklin, KY, these sprinkler maintenance tips should prevent accidental activations before they ever happen. If you do have a water damage from a sprinkler system going off, work with professional restoration experts.

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