Fire sprinkler systems are common safety precautions in most businesses and offices around Australia, and many have been there for decades. That is actually part of the problem, as they have been there for decades without any reason to go off. While it is good to know that you have had no fire emergencies, you should want to know if your fire sprinkler systems are still in good working order despite not ever having been activated. Here are a few clues that you might need to upgrade or update your fire sprinkler systems.
Age
Any fire sprinkler system that is more than a couple of decades old should be considered out-of-date by this point. While they may still provide some measure of safety if a fire does appear, they cannot be reliably called upon to keep pumping water to every area that requires it. There is also the issue that many fire sprinkler systems built before the turn of the century use material that was more subject to rust. The best way to know for sure if your fire sprinkler system is potentially more of a danger than a help is by getting it inspected by a professional who can read the tell-tale signs of if the system is past its usefulness.
Paint
A problem that many fire sprinkler systems face is that often owners will paint over them to match the ceiling colour. If the previous owner of your building has painted over your fire sprinkler systems, then they inadvertently created a very dangerous problem, as it is likely the water will not be able to freely exit the sprinkler heads. The last thing you want in an emergency is for the life-saving sprinkler heads to be jammed with old paint and not able to pump out the water you desperately need.
Rust
As briefly aforementioned, rust is always going to be a danger when it comes to wet fire sprinkler systems (wet being the technical term for sprinkler systems that always have water in the pipes as opposed to those that only get water in them when activated). While rust has always been a concern, and steps were made to prevent it from occurring, it is impossible to stop it completely when water is always around these systems. Always be on the lookout for any orange specks, both on your sprinkler systems and the roof or wall around it, as sometimes the rust can transfer onto other surfaces.
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