Potter Releasing Systems - Manual (Page 4)

4
Introduction
When properly installed, supervised, and maintained, automatic fire sprinkler systems are the most effective
method of controlling damage and providing life safety in the event of a fire. In most cases they will detect
and control a fire before hazardous flames and toxic gasses destroy a building or cause loss of life. Although
a sprinkler system may extinguish a fire, it’s primary purpose is to contain the spread of the fire until the fire
department arrives.
In an untended fully sprinklered building, if one or more sprinkler heads activate to extinguish a fire, water will
continue to flow until the system is shut down. Unless the head is one of the “on-off” types that reset when the
temperature returns to normal. Also, if the heat source should fail in the winter, sprinkler pipes containing water
could freeze and rupture. Water discharging through an open sprinkler head or broken pipe for several hours can
cause considerable damage. Monitoring for water flow and building temperature will alert the proper personnel
to those property damaging situations.
Sprinkler systems may sit idle for years or even decades, however, when needed they must work to perfection.
Even though they have an excellent performance record, the occasional failure can be catastrophic. Most of
these failures are the result of the sprinkler system not being fully operational at the time of the fire. Monitoring
for water flow, valve position, low building temperature, etc. along with regular testing according to NFPA
standards will help to ensure proper operation.