Whether they’re in a residential complex, commercial building or office space, fire sprinklers systems are complex. It’s why having some familiarity with how they work is important, especially in the event of an accidental activation when a sprinkler head shut off tool is essential for stopping the flow of water. Regardless of the reasons for a sprinkler’s activation, it’s important to know that once it goes off, that particular head is now inoperable and will need to be replaced to restore protection to your property. It’s why we always suggest having a sprinkler wrench and spare sprinklers on hand.
Why Do I Need Spare Sprinklers?
Sprinklers for commercial systems aren’t something you can just go to your local hardware store to purchase. And because systems vary, you may even need to special order replacement sprinklers, which could take several days or even weeks to be delivered. Furthermore, sprinkler systems are designed as such where if one head isn’t replaced or working properly, it could impact the effectiveness of the entire system – potentially leaving your property unprotected in the event that there is an actual emergency.
You should also have spare sprinklers on hand because it’s the law. In fact, all properties with fire sprinkler systems need to have at last six spares on hand at all times. For properties with 300 to 1,000 sprinklers, 12 spares must be on hand. And for properties with more than 1,000 sprinklers in its system, at least 24 spares must be handy.
The Importance of Having a Sprinkler Head Shut Off Tool
Aside from having spare sprinklers on hand that meet the type and temperature ratings of the system installed in your property, it’s also important to have an adequate shut-off tool at your disposal in the event of an accidental activation.
Sprinklers may activate for a variety of reasons, and if they do and there’s no fire, your property could be faced with costly water damage. In fact, it’s estimated that a single sprinkler can release up to 60 gallons of water each minute. That’s about the equivalence of a bathtub full of water after just a single minute of activation. Those without a sprinkler head shut off tool on hand may have to wait for the fire department to arrive to deactivate the system – and this can result in precious time wasted and thousands of gallons of water flooding the property. While you can purchase a sprinkler wrench specific to the system you have installed on your property, you cannot shut off the flow of water at the point of activation, as you would need to shut off the valve and drain the system first. A sprinkler wrench is designed for the install component of a sprinkler system, and required by code to be kept in the box with the spare sprinklers. In the case of an accidental sprinkler system activation, a universal shut-off tool – such as the Shutgun – is a viable and affordable option that can, and will work perfectly in this scenario. With up to 90 percent of all fire sprinkler system activations stemming from non-fire situations, having a viable shut off tool can be much more than just a luxury.
Sprinklers may activate for a variety of reasons, and if they do and there’s no fire, your property could be faced with costly water damage. In fact, it’s estimated that a single sprinkler can release up to 60 gallons of water each minute (see video to the right). That’s about the equivalence of a bathtub full of water after just a single minute of activation. Those without a sprinkler head shut off tool on hand may have to wait for the fire department to arrive to deactivate the system – and this can result in precious time wasted and thousands of gallons of water flooding the property. While you can purchase a sprinkler wrench specific to the system you have installed on your property, you cannot shut off the flow of water at the point of an activation, as you would need to shut off the valve and drain the system first. A sprinkler wrench is designed for the install component of a sprinkler system, and required by code to be kept in the box with the spare sprinklers. In the case of an accidental sprinkler system activation, a universal shut-off tool – such as the Shutgun – is a viable and affordable option that can, and will work perfectly in this scenario. With up to 90 percent of all fire sprinkler system activations stemming from non-fire situations, having a viable shut off tool can be much more than just a luxury.
Contact Us Today
To learn more about why you should have spare sprinklers and a sprinkler head shut off tool on hand, contact us today.