We read about fire deaths too many times during any given calendar year. Witnessing this unnecessary pain and suffering in person or through the news media is truly heartbreaking. Most often these fires originate in mobile or permanent homes causing nearly 4,000 deaths and many more disfiguring injuries each and every year in the United States. The larger death tolls occur in nightclubs, motels and factories unequipped with fire sprinkler systems.
Our governments, both state and federal, have authored several pieces of legislation mandating that fire sprinklers be installed in most all group A occupancies (an occupancy where 300 or more people gather) of new construction. Additionally, there have been several high rise or retro-fit laws placed on the books addressing nursing homes, schools and dormitories since the year 2000. While great progress has been achieved with these new sprinkler systems in new and retro-fit projects, the required maintenance is often misunderstood or totally neglected.
While administrators are now (or quickly becoming) aware of the life safety advantages of these systems, we need to educate them on the significance of regularly scheduled inspections and quickly make service repairs to keep these systems in top working order. With limited staff due to tight budget constraints, many of these companies and institutions rely on their local fire sprinkler companies to partner with them to ensure they are maintaining the systems in accordance with their insurance requirements as well as local authorities having jurisdiction over them.
System readiness is critical to the reliability of any mechanical or electrical fire system. Some of the most frequent system impairments include alarm bells not working properly, systems not being retro-fitted when small architectural projects were completed, deteriorated water supply as discovered through a proper main drain test and most devastating, valves left in the CLOSED position.
Remember, it is the PROPERTY OWNER’S responsibility to maintain their fire systems and the local AHJ’s will typically enforce the annual inspection. If you need help with your system, give us a call today.
You said that system readiness is critical. If I was thinking of getting fire sprinklers I would want to know that they would work. Maybe I should have a professional inspect them to make sure they work if I get some.