On 6/30/2011 10:02 AM, Tom Horne wrote:
On Jun 25, 6:58 pm, The Daring
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

Get you facts straight! Dry pipe sprinklers are only used were there
is a danger of freezing. They are more expensive to maintain because
the condensate traps have to be drained monthly. The compressor for
the piping air adds cost and the differential dry pipe valve is much
more expensive than the Alarm Check Valves used on wet pipe systems.
Preaction only systems are only found were the damage from water might
well exceed the damage from a fire. Examples include museums,
historic library collections, fur storage, paper supply storage, and
similar occupancies. If you are thinking of a combination preaction
dry pipe system those are extremely rare and are found only in areas
exposed to freezing that are so large that an ordinary dry pipe system
would take too long to deliver water to the fire.
--
Tom Horne

I think we clarified that in later posts. I've only seen dry pipe
systems in commercial/industrial settings.

TDD