On Jun 26, 9:11*am, Nate Nagel wrote:
On 06/25/2011 06:58 PM, The Daring Dufas wrote:



On 6/25/2011 1:46 PM, bob wrote:
I live in an apartment with several fire sprinkler in the ceiling.

If the sprinkler goes off due to fire or malfunction, can I turn it off
after the fire is out? Is it the same valve near the water heater or is
there a different one?

I’m more worry about water damage (to electronics and computers) than
fire damage. Perhaps because I’ve never had a fire before and this is
the first time I moved to a place with fire sprinklers.

Alternately, is there a switch to cut off power to computers or other
devices when it senses water? This would reduce short-circuits caused by
water when the device is powered.

It's not like in the movies and TV where you see all the sprinkler heads
start spraying water at the same time. It doesn't work like that if that
worries you. Only the sprinkler head tripped by flames releases water.
Many systems are dry, meaning there is no water, only compressed air in
the pipes which keeps the main water valve shut until a sprinkler head
is activated by fire. The wet pipe systems have to be drained to flush
them out on a regular basis to keep crud out of them, the dry systems
don't have that problem and the maintenance folks have to keep an eye on
the air pressure in the system which is usually remotely monitored
through the alarm system. If you are in a multi-floor apartment building
, each floor may have a maintenance closet where there is a valve for
your floor.

TDD

Dry systems are typically only used where ther eis a risk of freezing.
The vast majority of residential sprinklers are wet pipe.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.http://members.cox.net/njnagel

+1 to what Nate said...

The expenses involved in all the additional sensors as well as the
special valves that each "dry zone" needs as well as the dedicated
air compressor for each zone required and emergency power to feed
it are enough of a barrier to reserve the use of "dry sprinkler"
systems
to sections of a building where environmental concerns like freezing
temperatures are a factor in the fire protection system design like
loading dock areas, parking areas and entry ways and stairwells
which are unheated...

~~ Evan