Hazard
Several water loss damage claims have occurred when disassembling components or removing sprinklers heads without verifying that the system is drained / depressurized. These accidents are re-occurring on sprinkler systems de-energized by VSC F&S employees, customers, and other contractors. This has also happened on systems with inaccurate zone maps. Sudden water bursts, when attempting to remove a sprinkler head, have blown water and pipe residue onto customer property, causing significant water damage claims. This water burst also has the potential to cause the employee to fall off of the ladder, leading to serious injuries.
Corrective Actions
Before servicing fire sprinkler systems, the system shall have a Reliable Sure Off or equivalent device attached and activated to ensure system is de-energized. If an equivalent mechanical device is fabricated in our shop, a 200 pound hydrostatic test must be performed for 2 hours before putting into service as required per NFPA 13 & 25. For systems with pipe diameters too large for a sure off, a vacuum or other approved method must be utilized.