How a frozen fire sprinkler system can cause both fire damage and water damage

1/2/2023 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Media explains how frozen pipes in a fire sprinkler system can increase the risk of fire and water damage.

The professionals at SERVPRO of Media, PA, provide fire and water damage restoration services to homeowners and businesses that have suffered a property damage disaster from burst pipes due to an ice blockage in a fire sprinkler system. Homeowners, business owners, and property managers are well acquainted with the disruption, inconvenience, and stress associated with frozen pipes when a winter blast roars through the Northeast and descends on Newtown Square, PA, and the surrounding area. The frozen water inside plumbing pipes expands, exerting greater and greater pressure until the pipes fracture, sending cascades of water into the home, business, or manufacturing facility. The resulting water damage disaster creates a complex matrix of problems.

Ice buildup in a fire sprinkler system elevates the risk hazard in the home, apartment complex, or commercial structure. The safety of residents, employees, and customers is negatively impacted. A blockage in the sprinkler system impedes or eliminates the life-saving capabilities of the affected fire sprinkler system. If the sprinkler system pipes freeze and rupture, a condition known as a “freeze break” in the fire safety realm, the results could be catastrophic unless a shut-off tool is located and employed to shut off the water to the sprinkler system.

Besides the extremes of an ice blockage or a freeze breakage which render the fire sprinkler system useless in a residential or commercial setting, other less obvious but quite hazardous circumstances emerge. The subtle situations can be life-threatening for the people in the structure, whether commercial or residential. Homeowners, business owners, and property managers must pay attention to the issues encompassing fire sprinkler systems.

Incremental impact on the integrity of the fire sprinkler system

Not all ice blockages in a fire sprinkler system completely cut off the flow of water through the system or end in a water damage disaster. Cycles of freezing and thawing may occur in the system’s pipes when the pipes are exposed to low temperatures for an extended period. This unusual occurrence sets up a vicious cycle that dramatically stresses the pipes in the fire sprinkler system. Pipes that freeze and thaw after a freeze event may appear unscathed. However, the integrity of the pipes may be compromised. Hairline cracks may grow progressively worse over time, resulting in what initially is a slight or minor water release. The owner or property manager can be assured that the problem will not remain static and unchanged. Compromised pipes in a fire sprinkler system can burst, causing substantial flood damage to furniture, stock, merchandise, equipment, and buildings. A fire sprinkler shut-off tool is quite helpful in this situation to prevent further water damage.

Difficult to locate and expensive to repair

When ice begins to form in a fire sprinkler system, pressure is exerted on the unfrozen water in the pipes. Now under intense pressure, this unfrozen water can burst pipes in areas of the sprinkler system that did not freeze. It may seem strange that an unfrozen section of the sprinkler system might experience ruptures. These unanticipated leaks are difficult to anticipate and spot. The cost of the water damage repairs and any inventory loss can be high.

The prominent place of prevention in protecting the fire sprinkler system from freezing

The best strategy to avoid fire and water damage from a freeze-related break in a fire sprinkler system is prevention. The following recommendations are a good starting point:

1. Identify sections of the fire sprinkler system with an elevated risk of freezing during a cold snap. Fire sprinkler systems in stairways, hallways, and unheated warehouse areas are susceptible to freezing.
2. Mitigate the risk hazard by insulating the sprinkler system pipes or increasing the heat sent to these areas by the HVAC system or other heat source.
3. Follow a prescribed inspection and maintenance on the fire sprinkler system.
4. Submit to required annual inspections by regulating agencies such as the fire department. Promptly implement any recommendations and required actions resulting from the third-party inspection.
5. Have a sprinkler shut-off tool accessible in the event of a sudden, unexplained sprinkler system activation.

Dry sprinkler systems may also have water buildup from condensation. Proper maintenance can eliminate any risk hazards arising from the presence of water in the system.

What to do if a fire or water damage disaster occurs

An ice blockage in a fire sprinkler system prevents the system from extinguishing a fire, putting a home or business at greater risk of fire damage. A freeze break in a fire sprinkler system can cause extensive water damage in a house, apartment, or business. Before a disaster strikes, pre-qualify the fire and water damage cleanup and restoration specialists at SERVPRO of Media. The team is available 24/7, 365 days a year, including holidays. A crew can be at the scene in about an hour or so. Technicians are IICRC-certified, undergo continuous training, and are experienced.

To learn more about water and fire and water damage restoration services for Newton Square businesses, email SERVPRO of Media at office@SERVPROmedia.com. The office can also be called at (610) 566-5720.