Although a sprinkler system is a great thing to have when a fire breaks out, it can also cause significant damage to your property if something goes wrong. It is very important to know what to do if your fire sprinkler system fails and how to prevent further damage to your commercial property.

Fire sprinkler systems within commercial buildings can easily fail. This is especially true if the pipes are older and they rust or corrode. Also, at times during remodeling, a floor plan can change and put the sprinkler too close to a heat source. Finally, during the winter, the pipes can freeze and the pipe system can rupture. When a fire sprinkler system fails, a large amount of water can get into the property and cause significant water damage.

Here are some things you can do if your fire sprinkler system breaks down:

Try to be prepared:

It is important to plan for the possibility of a problem with the sprinkler system so you can avoid further water damage. Here are a few things to do to be prepared in case of a sprinkler system failure.

• Your sprinkler installer will help you get familiar with the sprinkler system.
• Various employees from different shifts should know how to help if the sprinkler system malfunctions.
• You should know where the shut-off valves are for different areas of your property which includes that main water shut-off valve. You should know how to operate all of these valves and how to shut off electricity as well.
• Keep any emergency numbers for the sprinkler company, insurance agent, and restoration contractor posted publicly.

 Have the right tools:

When the issue is with the sprinkler head, it can be resolved with a few tools. You should have these handy so they can be easily accessed, and your employees should know how to use them.

These are the tools to keep handy:

• Talon Tool – This tool stops water by sealing the sprinkler head with rubber gaskets.
• Sprinkler Stop Valve – You can insert this tool into the sprinkler head and turn the valve to control the water flow.
• Sprinkler Shutoff Tool – This tool will help stop water flow from most wet broken sprinkler heads.

Having these tools to quickly repair problems with the sprinkler system will help prevent you from having to shut off the water supply. This is a short-term fix. If you do experience a failure of the sprinkler system, set it up for an inspection right away. This will help make sure that your system is operating properly to prevent another failure that leads to water damage.

Call a professional dehumidification company:

Make sure to call a professional company for cleanup after a sprinkler system failure as you may be dealing with water that contains dirt, oil, and sediment. This water can cause bad odors in the building, so it is important to get it removed by professionals. If you call a proper water restoration company, they will help clean up the water damage with specialized equipment and repair the leak. They will also clean any interior materials such as sheetrock, carpets, flooring, furniture, and equipment affected by the water damage.

The water damage restoration process will be done as follows:

• Clear out all the possessions: They will clear out all the possessions that are made of wood, cloth, and any other porous surfaces. Some items may have to be replaced depending on the level of damage.
• Removal of water: They will use specialized pumps and water removal equipment to get rid of the water quickly and efficiently.
• Drying out the damaged areas: Dehumidifiers and fans will help dry affected materials so that you can avoid mildew and mold.
• Repairing all areas: It is important to fix any water damage right away as the structure of the building can be weakened and cause further and costly damage.
• Help the claims get processed quicker: Make sure you document all damage from your sprinkler system so your insurance company knows what type of loss you experienced so they can settle your claim quicker. You should take good pictures of the damage to all areas such as walls and floors. Make sure that any damaged furniture is left for the adjuster to inspect. Finally, create a file that has a list of items that were damaged so that the contractor can give you a proper estimate. For your specific insurance claim ask the water restoration company to help you.

Have you experienced water damage to your commercial property due to a fire sprinkler system failure?

Water damage restoration professionals can help. Whether the water has damaged furniture, equipment, or walls, fire sprinkler water damage can cause major issues to your building structure if not attended to right away. Calling a professional that can remove the water and restore the damage right away will help prevent more serious issues like structural damage and mold and get your property back to its previous condition.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.