Fire Sprinklers: An Essential Fire Damage Prevention Strategy for Businesses

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth explains four misconceptions about fire sprinklers for businesses and commercial facilities.

SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth highlights why businesses in Keller, TX, need sprinklers to protect against a commercial fire damage disaster. A fire damage disaster is a complex cleanup and restoration process. The fire damages or destroys all or portions of the facility, and the damaged areas often must be demolished and rebuilt. Smoke damage can extend far beyond the burn site. If the fire department used water to extinguish the blaze, thousands of gallons of water were likely sprayed into the building, causing extensive water damage. Portions of the facility may be without water and power. The toxicity of a fire damage disaster can render parts of an office complex, distribution center, retail store, or factory uninhabitable until demolition, cleanup, and restoration have made the building structurally sound and healthy for occupation.

Fire prevention strategies to identify risks and eliminate hazards are foundational in any fire safety plan. The goal is to prevent or avoid fire in the first place. When prevention strategies fail, the fire must be suppressed and extinguished in its earliest stages. Failure to do so results in extensive damage. In a commercial setting, the disaster disrupts the business enterprise with potentially devastating financial consequences. A fire sprinkler system is one of the most effective tools to suppress or extinguish a fire before much damage occurs. The benefits of a fire sprinkler system far outweigh the detriments or downside of not having such a system. However, many misconceptions about fire sprinkler systems cause businesses to shy away from adopting this fire protection technology.

Four Myths about Fire Sprinklers

A fire sprinkler system is a simple, effective means to suppress and extinguish a fire and should be a key feature in every commercial fire safety and prevention plan. Yet, where building codes do not require sprinkler systems, builders and business owners sometimes do not include sprinklers in new builds, expansions, and renovations. Misconceptions about the effectiveness, functionality, and expense of the system drive these decisions. These determinations are unfortunate because of the many benefits a sprinkler system provides when installed in a structure.

Listed below is an overview of the common misconceptions surrounding the need for and the benefits of a fire sprinkler system in commercial buildings.

#1. MYTH: Sprinklers are too expensive.

Many business owners and property managers are of the opinion that the installation costs of a fire sprinkler system are too high and should not be included in the construction blueprints in regions where building codes do not mandate sprinklers. A closer look at the actual situation reveals that in new construction, the installation cost for fire sprinklers in commercial buildings taller than five floors is only about $1.00 per square foot. Installation costs in existing buildings are understandably more expensive but still reasonable. Installation prices to retrofit existing buildings range from four to five times more than new builds. These prices may vary as construction costs rise and fall due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and changes in building codes.

Sprinkler installation incorporated in a new residential building is about 1% of the overall project cost. Sprinklers are a long-term solution that lowers insurance premiums, and the savings can offset the cost of the sprinklers, yielding a better ROI. Sprinklers can be a strong selling point if building codes require a retrofit with sprinklers.

#2. MYTH: Accidental discharges are unavoidable.

Contrary to common belief, an overcooked meal in the breakroom or burnt food in the office kitchen cannot activate sprinklers. Sprinklers activate only when exposed to high heat from a fire. Temperatures generated by stovetop cooking or opening an oven door simply cannot activate a sprinkler. Also, only sprinklers directly affected by flames will activate. In many cases, only one sprinkler activation is needed to extinguish the fire.

#3. MYTH: Smoke alarms are enough.

Smoke alarms alert occupants of fire but do nothing to extinguish the flames. Sprinklers reduce heat and smoke while working to extinguish the fire. Alarms reduce the likelihood of fatalities by about one-third, and sprinklers reduce the risk of death in a fire by approximately 80%. A life is priceless.

#4. MYTH: Sprinklers require expensive maintenance.

Commercial sprinklers involve sophisticated technologies that enhance performance, reduce the likelihood of a false activation, and require less maintenance to prevent malfunctions and leaks. Inspection and testing are necessary, but advances in technology and monitoring make commercial sprinklers a worthy fire protection strategy. Sprinklers in a residential facility also require upkeep and inspections.

A sprinkler system is an effective strategy to reduce property damage when a fire breaks out. Fire damage, smoke damage, and water damage will still occur, but the effects of the fire will be greatly reduced in many cases. When property damage services are needed in a commercial setting, the team at SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth is available 24/7, 365 days a year. The rapid response and quick cleanup and restoration help a business resume normal operations as soon as possible.

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth for more details about residential and commercial fire damage restoration services in Keller, TX. The office can be reached by calling (817) 741-5737 or emailing office@SERVPROnortheastftworth.com