In Brookhaven, MS, fire safety sprinklers are mandatory in most commercial buildings. Although it is rare, the sprinklers can activate for a false alarm, like burnt popcorn in the microwave of the break room. When this occurs, you are left dealing with flooding and water damage rather than fire damage.
What You Can Do
If your sprinklers have activated and it has been determined there is no fire, you should still attempt to clear both people and important items from the room. Next task is to stop the fire sprinklers. If there is no built-in off-switch, this can be done by turning off the building's water. You should also investigate the probable cause of the activation. Some common non-fire sprinkler triggers are:
Overheating- near heaters or lighting
Freezing- damages the valve cap
Corrosion- particularly in older sprinklers
Mechanical failure- if it has suffered an impact
Who To Call
If left untreated, the flooding caused by the sprinklers may cause water damage that can compromise the structural integrity of your building. Do not delay in calling professional water restoration services to mitigate the damage and restore what they can. You should not attempt to clean it up on your own, if it is done improperly the water damage can persist. You should also consider calling your insurance company, if your plan covers for something like this.
What They Do
First, a commercial water service will assess the damage, so they can come up with an individualized plan for your space. Dependable companies will have specialized technicians for applied structural drying, water damage restoration, odor control and upholstery. They can also help with any mold or mildew, if it is found. They can also come up with an estimate of the damage, which will help when talking to your insurance company.
When your fire sprinklers are accidentally triggered, it can be as hilarious as it is annoying. However, don't delay getting it properly cleaned up. Flooding from your sprinklers can cause more problems down the road if left alone.