What To Do if Your Building's Fire Sprinklers Accidentally Turn On

9/11/2019 (Permalink)

Although sprinklers are often useful, they can cause flooding if they turn on accidentally.

During a fire, having fire sprinklers that function properly can often help to protect your business in Knoxville, TN, from fire damage. Unfortunately, there are some instances when your building's sprinklers may go off unnecessarily, which can result in flooding. If your sprinklers accidentally turn on, there are several useful steps you can take.

1. Turn Off the Water
Sprinklers are designed to dispense large amounts of water in a short period of time to put out a fire. However, when your sprinklers turn on when there is not a fire in your building, water damage can occur quickly. In general, less water in your building makes cleanup and restoration quicker and less costly, so it's often useful to turn off the water in your building as soon as possible.

2. Dry Out the Building
Once your sprinklers are turned off and water is no longer flooding your building, it's often wise to keep your building as dry as possible in order to mitigate the damage. If you were able to turn off the water soon after the sprinklers turned on, it may be possible to remove the majority of the water with a mop and towels. Opening windows can also help to increase the airflow and keep your building dry.

3. Seek Out Professional Help
Though turning off the water in your building and keeping your building dry can be helpful, it's often useful to contact water damage, restoration experts. Water from fire sprinklers can cause widespread damage, and professionals can assist in restoring the structure of your building and can also help to restore any items that have been damaged. Additionally, experts can help to prevent mold growth and other forms of secondary damage that often occur after a flood.

Although sprinklers are often useful, they can cause flooding if they turn on accidentally. However, responding appropriately by turning off the water, drying out the building and contacting professionals for assistance can decrease the likelihood of your business sustaining major damage.