If you are the owner of a business of considerable size like a hotel or mall, you have many responsibilities and priorities, but one of your chief concerns must always be safety. There are many ways to go about ensuring the safety of your employees, patrons, and property, but one of the most important is likely a fire suppression system like fire sprinklers. These systems are designed to help in the prevention of flames spreading, which helps to minimize the overall risk of damage to the property and helps to save lives. It is important that your fire sprinkler system remains up to date in maintenance and repairs, but at the same time, you need to know when your system needs to undergo repairs.
Changes to the Fire Code
If your property undergoes a renovation or you hire on new staff members, the fire code requirements should be reassessed. While not always, there may be certain situations that require your fire sprinkler system to undergo an inspection. During this inspection, certain repairs may be necessary to ensure that your system remains in compliance with the local fire code.
Detection of Leaks
If you notice that your fire sprinklers are leaking water onto your flooring, furniture, or inventory, there is a good chance that the fittings have been tightened too much or the O-rings have become defective over time. A professional will need to be contacted to assess the situation and perform the necessary repairs to ensure that your property does not suffer any significant water damage.
Presence of Corrosion
Occasionally, you should inspect the fire sprinkler heads and take note of any signs of corrosion. In some instances, you may smell an unpleasant odor of sulfur. To ensure that your fire sprinkler heads remain properly intact and operational, you will need to schedule repairs as soon as possible after noticing rust deposits and/or smelling sulfur coming from the fire sprinkler system.
Increase in Age
The lifespan of fire sprinkler systems will vary from one system to the next. Some may need to be replaced after a decade whereas others may last half a century or longer. You should speak to the manufacturer to determine what type of life expectancy you can expect with your fire sprinklers. If yours have reached the halfway point of their expected lifespan, you will want to schedule a thorough inspection and any necessary repairs.
If you would like to learn more, contact a fire sprinkler repair company, such as Federal Fire Protection Corporation, near you.