Fire sprinkler systems are essential for all types of commercial buildings. They save lives and protect property from fire damage, and a well-maintained system can also impact the environment. More specifically, a system appropriately maintained and optimized for water efficiency can reduce the system’s overall environmental impact.
Fortunately, a well-maintained fire sprinkler system also tends to be more reliable when extinguishing fires. Today, we will explore how fire sprinkler systems contribute to environmental sustainability by preventing water waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
We will also look at the critical role that the Shutgun Fire Sprinkler Shut-Off Tool can have in minimizing water waste and water damage caused by sprinkler systems.
The Relationship Between Water Efficiency and Fire Safety
As you likely know, fire sprinkler systems control and extinguish fires before they are allowed to spread. By offering reliable and effective fire protection, fire sprinkler systems significantly reduce the environmental impact of building fires even when the building is unoccupied.
When the water these systems expel effectively prevents a large-scale fire, harmful greenhouse emissions and fumes that would otherwise be released into the environment in the form of smoke are avoided. When material combusts due to a building fire, harmful gasses, especially carbon, are released.
Plus, if the building is completely destroyed, rebuilding would greatly increase carbon emissions compared to just maintaining the building. According to a 2021 study by FM Global, even smaller residential fire sprinkler systems could reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by house fires by as much as 97.8%.
Similar reductions can be expected for commercial properties when comparing properties protected by a well-maintained fire sprinkler system to those that do not have a reliable fire sprinkler system installed.
When discussing large commercial properties, preventing large-scale fires that would otherwise release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere is incredibly important.
Just think of the environmental impact of having a fire sprinkler system successfully prevent even one large-scale fire at a commercial property containing dangerous flammable materials, like large volumes of rubber tires, chemical cleaners, paint, plastics, or any other type of harmful substance.
Water Efficiency and Fire Sprinkler Systems
When properly maintained, a fire sprinkler system can disperse water far more efficiently. Using the appropriate type of fire sprinkler head, the water expelled is spread in a way that will make the best use of it. Plus, a well-maintained system will be far less susceptible to leaks and misfires, which can waste significant volumes of water.
This is particularly important when considering that even a single fire sprinkler head can release up to 60 gallons of water in a minute. If multiple fire sprinkler heads run uncontrolled for even 20 minutes, the water waste and resulting water damage would be substantial.
Introducing the Shutgun
While regular inspections and timely maintenance are critical for preventing water damage, accidents can still happen. Misfires, damage-related leaks, and even having a fire sprinkler continue to run after it has successfully extinguished a fire can all lead to serious water damage if the issue is not addressed quickly.
Unfortunately, fire sprinkler systems do not shut off automatically. While this is a small price to pay for the automated fire protection they offer, it can still result in expensive water damage repairs. Luckily, the Shutgun Fire Sprinkler Shut-Off Tool provides a quick and easy way to stop the flow of water from activated fire sprinkler heads, conserving water and preventing further damage.
Rather than waiting for first responders or professional fire sprinkler maintenance crews to arrive and deactivate the running or leaking fire sprinkler head, the Shutgun empowers you to do it yourself in seconds. The Shutgun is so easy to use that it can be used safely with one hand from a ladder.
To ensure your property is protected, we highly recommend positioning a Shutgun near every fire extinguisher in the building. This way, you always know where to find one within short reach of any misfiring sprinkler head.
Integrate the Shutgun into your fire safety plan by building your own Custom Shutgun Case. This way, you can easily order the exact number and type of Shutgun Tools you need!
What Are the Environmental Benefits of Efficient Fire Sprinkler Systems?
Not only can fire sprinklers extinguish fires before they can cause serious environmental and structural damage, but they also target fires directly, meaning they are comparatively better at conserving water than the fire hoses used by fire departments.
With a fire sprinkler head releasing between 20 and 60 gallons of water per minute, it may sound like they expel water at an extremely high rate, but this is far less than the 250 gallons per minute released by a single fire hose!
So, not only do they stop fires early, preventing the release of smoke-related greenhouse gasses, but they also use water far more efficiently than fire hoses, as they are located right at the source of the fire.
The Environmental Impact of the Shutgun
We have discussed how the Shutgun can quickly prevent water waste by shutting off fire sprinklers, but that is just the beginning. When a fire sprinkler runs uncontrolled for 20 to 30 minutes, the resulting water damage can be ruinous. The damaged property must be removed, resulting in substantial waste.
If, for example, you had to fully remove and replace all of your ceiling tiles, floor tiles, furnishings, drywall, and inventory due to water damage, the environmental impact would actually be rather significant. On the other hand, if you could shut off the sprinkler head quickly using the Shutgun, the water could have been cleaned up with a mop and a few cloth rags.
Final Words
While fire protection is the number one reason for installing and maintaining a functional fire sprinkler system, they can also offer significant environmental benefits.
From reducing greenhouse gas emissions that would be released during an out-of-control fire to using significantly less water to contain and extinguish fires than firefighting methods, your fire sprinkler system can minimize water waste and environmental damage.
To ensure that your system is reliable and able to conserve water, it is important to ensure that it is maintained properly. It is also important to prevent water damage and water loss that misfires and leaks would cause. For this reason, your business needs to invest in the Shutgun Fire Sprinkler Shut-Off Tool right away.
If your business is committed to environmental sustainability, preventing fires and unnecessary water loss is crucial. Protect your business and reduce your carbon footprint today!