Cold Weather Maintenance
Freezing weather conditions can wreak havoc on a fire sprinkler system. But a properly designed, installed, tested and maintained system should be a functioning system in any climate. Fire sprinkler systems freeze faster than plumbing pipe because the water doesn't flow unless there's a fire. Low points in a dry pipe sprinkler system where condensation can collect are susceptible to freezing, as are the smaller pipe diameters, such as one to two inch pipes, in a wet pipe sprinkler system.
The most important step in maintaining a sprinkler system during the winter months is also the simplest: keep the heat on. National building codes recommend that a sprinklered room be maintained at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer to avoid freezeups. Go below that and you're flirting with disaster.
Without heat, any sprinkler system can freeze. A cold snap comes through and the water in the piping network will freeze. This expands the pipe and places pressure on the fittings until they break. The damage only becomes apparent after the building's heat is turned back on: As the ice in the pipes begins to thaw, water from the broken fittings can leak. Office furniture, computers, carpeting, storage and anything else in the water's path gets soaked.
It's not unusual for a company to rack up tens of thousands of dollars in damages from a sprinkler freeze. Moreover, as long as a sprinkler system is damaged, its ability to fight fire is greatly compromised, so the building itself is left open to catastrophe.
Most sprinkler systems employ steel pipe with cast iron fittings. Freezing can shatter the cast iron fittings and even "pop" the sprinkler head itself. Plastic pipe turns brittle in cold weather, so entire lengths can shatter if the water inside freezes.
For additional information give us a call at 866-812-3473 or contact us via email.