Accidental Fire Sprinkler Discharge

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Sprinkler Discharge

In 20 minutes, a single fire sprinkler can spray hundreds of gallons of water onto a fire or just onto your most important documents and equipment, flooding the office. It’s certainly not action movie common in the Upper Cumberland but overhead sprinklers do get discharged when fire is not involved. If it happens to you, take these steps:

1. Turn Off the Water Fast

This seems simple, but it may require planning. First, if you are the responsible party working at a property, you need to know where the water shut off is. That is information you should find out ahead of time, especially if you or others working on the property are working near the sprinklers or carrying items that could hit a sprinkler.

Secondly, if you have employees working at your property, they need two things: an emergency plan that includes detection of accidentally discharged fire sprinklers and knowledge of the location of the water shut off valve. This is particularly important if you are not regularly onsite. If your employees wait for the fire department to handle the sprinklers, the flooding could be extensive.

2. Call Your Insurance Company

It may be tempting to wander into the wetness and start deciding what’s what, but it will probably save time in the long run if you let your insurance company make decisions and follow its directions. It'll most likely want to investigate the situation without any extra considerations. If there is something you want to do before someone from your insurance company arrives, just check with your insurer ahead of time.

3. Hire Restoration Services

You should have approval from your insurance company before you choose a water damage restoration company. A quality restoration job will put your property back together like the water damage never happened.

The accidental discharge of a fire sprinkler can cause devastating levels of damage. However, the faster the sprinkler gets turned off, the less flooding and other damage there will be. Following the directions that your insurance company gives you will help you get back in business in a dry and restored office.