Accidental Fire Sprinkler Activation

3/8/2023 (Permalink)

It's a scary thing when the fire sprinklers go off at your place of business. You're probably wondering if you'll ever get things back to normal. Luckily, there are some steps you can take that will help minimize the damage and get things back to normal as quickly as possible.

Where did the fire sprinklers go off?

If you're like most people, the first thing you'll want to know is where the water came from. In many cases, it's clear that a fire sprinkler has gone off. If there's no visible sign of damage or flooding and only one or two sprinklers have been activated, then it's likely that the cause was an accidental activation.

What is the source of the water? A simple way to determine whether your facility has been affected by an accidental activation is by checking for signs of damage in areas where sprinklers should not be installed. Electrical panels or air conditioning units, and seeing if any of these items have been damaged by dripping water. What are the consequences of this loss? The amount of damage will vary depending on how much water was lost through each individual sprinkler head during its cycle.

How much water has been lost?

The amount of water lost will depend on the type of sprinkler system and how long it was in operation. If you don't know how much water has been lost, contact your fire protection company immediately.

Was the loss intentional or accidental?

If the fire sprinklers went off accidentally, you should call a professional to assess the damage. The person who turned them on may or may not be liable for any associated costs and damages. If they were intentionally activated and there is no fire, then you should also call the fire department immediately as well.

Getting things back to normal as quickly as possible?

First thing to get things back to normal quick is call the fire department. Upon arrival call a restoration company to quickly access the damage. Turn off all power to your building and shut off water to affected areas. Remove all valuables from affected areas, including computers, paperwork and anything else that might be damaged by water or fire.

Clean up any standing water with towels or mops, and use air movers and dehumidifiers to help reduce water damage and potential secondary damages.

Plan in place

If you have fire sprinklers in your building, you should have a plan in place to deal with them. This can include things like, having someone who is responsible for checking the water levels on a regular basis and making sure they're not getting too low, especially during times when there are fewer people working at the office or school.

Keeping an eye out for any signs that something might be wrong with a sprinkler (like leaks) so that it can be fixed before there's any damage done to anything else nearby.

Having someone ready to turn off all power sources if they feel unsafe while working near water levels that are too high due to malfunctioning equipment or other issues related directly back up into their electrical systems. You'll want everyone working together so everyone knows what needs doing immediately after hearing those fateful words "Fire Sprinklers Activated."

In the event of an accidental fire sprinkler activation, you should survey the damage and determine whether or not it was intentional. If it was, then you should call 911 immediately and let them know. If it wasn't intentional then there may be some steps that can be taken by yourself or with help from professionals to clean up the mess and restore things back to normal as quickly as possible.