Many of our clients have done a great job at not only stocking a Shutgun along with their fire boxes and annunciator panels, but also in training their staff and front line personnel on the proper use and procedures in a sprinkler-related emergency.
We would like to applaud you – and although yes, it is a good idea to have a Shutgun tool at the annunciator panel, it actually is more cost effective to invest in multiple Shutguns per property, having one with each fire extinguisher box. Here is the ‘official’ formula:
$ cost benefit = Shutgun x Floors + Time ($1,000 per minute)
Allow us to explain…don’t worry, there will not be a test later!
Take the example of having just ONE fire extinguisher for an entire building. If a small fire broke out on floor #7 but the extinguisher was on floor #1, the amount of potential damage that could be inflicted in the time it takes to run down and back up with the extinguisher, could be severe.
Similarly, it is estimated that the cost of clean up, repairs and water damage related to accidental fire sprinkler activation can run up to $1,000 per minute for every minute that a sprinkler is left running. (That’s about $17 per second if you don’t have your calculator handy)
Here’s the math in action – see which scenario makes more sense to you:
SCENARIO A:
1 Shutgun x 4 Floors = $50
(savings of $200 for buying only 1 tool)
+ If it takes at least 5 minutes to go down several floors, get the Shutgun and come back –
5 minutes = potentially $5,000 in damage
= $5,050 in damage and time wasted.
SCENARIO B:
5 Shutguns x 4 Floors (+ 1 for panel) = $250
+ 0 minutes to run and get Shutgun = $0/minimal in damage
= $250 (and minimal damage to rooms/floors.)
*Essentially, the savings on purchasing tools is negated by the resulting damage of time wasted in retrieving the tool.
Economic sense? We think so too! The simple solution: a Shutgun for every floor.
For a gold star – please stock your condo, hotel, and high rise with multiple Shutguns – as well as share/tweet/tag this post with the hashtag #OneOnEveryFloor
Lastly, for our existing customers – be sure you have your Shutgun Sheared Head Attachment for recessed fire sprinklers in walls, ceilings.