Important Steps to Take After Fire Sprinklers Discharge

7/31/2022 (Permalink)

A fire sprinkler.

Your business in Colorado Springs, CO, could experience the impacts of flooding from a variety of sources. While a strong storm with heavy rains remains the most likely culprit, your building could also have a catastrophic plumbing breakdown. Another possibility is the discharge of your fire sprinkler system while putting out a fire; even an accidental sprinkler discharge, though rare, could release hundreds or thousands of gallons of water into your facility. When fire sprinklers go off in a commercial building, the following steps should be taken.

Cleaning Up Water Damage After a Sprinkler Discharge

Stop the Water From Flowing

Quickly after a fire has been put out, or immediately in the case of an accidental discharge. the water from the sprinkler system should be turned off. This will stop water from soaking flooring, ceilings, furniture and other valuable items. Limiting the amount of water that discharges is one of the most effective ways to limit water damage to your building. All managers and all maintenance workers should know the location of all relevant shut-off valves for the facility.

Call a Local Restoration Company

As soon as things are under control, a call should be made for commercial building restoration services. A team of highly-trained workers will arrive within a couple of hours and begin to inspect and assess the damage to your building. The lead workers will take action to ensure the building is safe, and then they will formulate a comprehensive restoration plan.
Each plan will cover water removal, drying and cleaning and sanitizing. The final stages will cover repairs and construction of damaged structures. One qualified company can perform all of these services.

Contact Insurance for Flooding Coverage

Each water event is handled differently by insurance companies and your coverage will depend upon your policy. In many cases, a fire sprinkler discharge, whether accidental or necessary, is covered by insurance. An experienced restoration company should be able to work together with the insurance adjuster and your company. This provides accuracy and speed and often leads to quicker and more reliable reimbursement for damages and claims.

Inspect the Finished Work

The goal of any professional restoration company is to return your building to its original condition before any flooding occurred. For your satisfaction, take a look at all the work that was done. Make sure that all repairs match the original look of the building. Watch out for any remaining stains or discolored areas. There should be no unpleasant odors coming from the damaged area.
With water damage, it is also important to be on the lookout for mold growth. If the wet area was not properly dried, mold could begin to become visible in a week or two. A professional restoration company will test the humidity of your facility and monitor the situation for any type of secondary damage.

No matter the source, the flooding of your business can be a challenging situation and it calls for a number of timely actions. The restoration process should go smoothly so long as you immediately reach out to an experienced mitigation team.