Sprinkler Fire Protection

How to choose what’s best for your business

The effectiveness of a fire sprinkler system to protect your employees and business from the threat of a fire is unmistakable. According to a report published by the National Fire Protection Association in 2005, “In fires with sprinklers present, the chances of dying in a fire are reduced by one-half to three fourths, and the average property loss is cut by one-half to two thirds, compared to fires where sprinklers are not present.”

Brenneco Fire Protection provides commercial clients with a range of fire sprinkler system and fire suppression system types to safeguard their businesses from fire damage. Choosing a sprinkler system is not as simple as comparing prices. Making the best choice depends on a range of things. Insurance carrier requirements, environmental circumstances, existing special hazards, budget and anticipated business growth are some of the factors we consider when determining the best type of system for each job. If you are considering sprinkler fire protection, be sure to consider the following:

Insurance carrier requirements

If a fire broke out in your business, you would want to be sure you were covered for the damage. Take a close look at your insurance policy. What requirements are you responsible for when it comes to your sprinkler system? If there aren’t any stringent requirements, ask your insurance representative if you may be eligible for a discount for having certain sprinkler system details in place. Once you have a system in place, your insurance carrier will likely have specific inspection requirements. If you aren’t diligent keeping up with your inspections, your carrier could refuse to pay when fire damage happens.

Existing special hazards

Different industries have different hazards that are present on a regular basis. If you are in the business of manufacturing metal parts, you may have special hazards such as welding machinery and hot metals that probably create fire-friendly conditions. In a library or one-level office building, the dangers are not as intense. In these cases, a water-based system is probably appropriate. In industries where high storage of flammable materials is present, foam might be the best fire fighter. If the threat of a hazardous chemical spill is present, vapor might be the best choice to keep the flames from spreading. Before choosing a fire sprinkler system, be sure you have explored every existing hazard you are protecting against.

Environmental circumstances

One of the major environmental factors that must be considered when choosing fire sprinkler protection is climate. Here in Indiana, we get a lot of cold weather. When an entire system or part of a system is installed in an unheated area such as a loading dock or garage, freezing water can be a problem because a sprinkler system is typically holding water at all times. If that water freezes, the system would not be functional. The solution may be to design and install a dry system, which is full of air instead of water, or use antifreeze to mitigate the threat of frozen pipes. Think about any special environmental conditions in your area before choosing a system.

Budget

A fire sprinkler system is not a small investment. That’s why you must strike a balance among several factors when you’re considering how much you want to and can spend. Some pipe materials cost more than others, for example. Ask vendors what they are doing to keep costs down. They should be able to answer that question.

If you have an existing building, you have additional budget considerations. You want to be sure your day-to-day business isn’t interrupted more than is necessary. Downtime can mean lost revenue, and customer interruptions can lead to disgruntled customers. The repercussions of choosing a cheaper service provider over a service provider who is willing to work around your schedule must be weighed.

Anticipated business growth

If you plan to expand your business or grow your capabilities, consider how reaching those goals might alter your sprinkler system needs. Be sure your system allows for anticipated growth, even if it’s several years down the road.