01/21/2014
The National Weather Service has forecast another Arctic blast of freezing temperatures this week. A similar forecast earlier this month resulted in frozen and broke water pipes in homes and businesses throughout the region. TheFire/EMS Department responded to over 2000 calls for service over a 3 to 4 day period to assist property owners in shutting off utilities to avoid additional damage. The Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department want to provide some preventive tips for exposed interior water pipes, including residential and commercial sprinkler systems to help avoid freezing.
If property managers and homeowners can do so safely, replace insulation that may have been shifted to cover exposed water pipes, primarily, in attics and garages. If you cannot do so safely you should contact one of the many fire protection company's or plumbers that can assist you.
Property managers and homeowners should also locate their water main valves and know how to turn the water off in the event of a broken water pipe.
Prince George's County homes constructed since the early 1990's have a residential sprinkler system installed to save lives and protect property. Therefore there are a large number of single family homes, in addition to commercial buildings and multi-family dwellings, that are equipped with these life-saving systems. The Fire/EMS Department has documented hundreds of incidents since the law changed requiring residential sprinklers that demonstrate that lives have been saved and damage to property limited when fires have occurred. Prince George's County was the first County in the Nation to require the installation of residential sprinklers in all new home construction. Since the residential sprinkler law went into effect there has not been a single fire fatality in single family homes protected by this system.
Home, apartment, condos and commercial building owners and management companies should take the time now to ensure that sprinkler systems are adequately protected against pipes freezing. During long periods of below freezing temperatures exposed water-filled sprinkler pipes can freeze expanding the pipe to the point when it will break. Sprinkler pipes tend to freeze before other water pipes because the water is not moving. Most sprinkler systems are wet systems that contain water all the time.
When water freezes inside a sprinkler pipe, it creates an obstruction that can render the sprinkler system useless in the event of a fire. As the ice expands, it increases the internal water pressure in the pipe and causes the pipe to burst. Interestingly, the burst is often in a section of pipe that did not actually freeze.
Alternatively, the expanding ice can cause a pipe, fitting or sprinkler head to crack but the ice will block the flow of water while it is solid. In this case, the actual water damage will not be apparent until the ice melts and water flows out of the burst section.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
The best way to protect a residential fire sprinkler system from freezing is to provide sufficient insulation and maintain adequate heat during the winter months. Insulation helps block the flow of heat or cold from one space to the next. Most sprinkler pipes are within the walls or ceilings of a home. Cold air can enter these concealed spaces through small gaps in the exterior sheathing and insulation and find its way into pipe chases and soffits that focus the air directly onto the sprinkler piping and accelerate freezing.
In attics, piping should be as close to the ceiling as possible with insulation placed over the sprinkler pipe. If you can safely inspect your sprinkler pipes in the attic and you can see exposed pipes; they need to be insulated immediately to prevent freezing. An open attic hatch will allow heat to rise into the attic and could provide enough heat to keep pipes from freezing.
Plumbing pipes providing water to the inside are also prone to freezing during long periods of freezing temperatures. Open cabinet doors that house water pipes and allow the homes heat inside. Slightly open a faucet to allow a small trickle of water - flowing water is more difficult to freeze than standing water in pipes. Remember to shut off and drain the water to all outside hose bibs.
If a water pipe bursts ensure that the location of the water shut-off valve is known and the proper method to turn it off. Contact a residential sprinkler professional immediately to initiate repairs. It is recommended that a sprinkler system is tested and inspected on a periodic basis to ensure it is in proper working order to prevent against rupture and flooding.
If property managers and homeowners can do so safely, replace insulation that may have been shifted to cover exposed water pipes, primarily, in attics and garages. If you cannot do so safely you should contact one of the many fire protection company's or plumbers that can assist you.
Property managers and homeowners should also locate their water main valves and know how to turn the water off in the event of a broken water pipe.
Prince George's County homes constructed since the early 1990's have a residential sprinkler system installed to save lives and protect property. Therefore there are a large number of single family homes, in addition to commercial buildings and multi-family dwellings, that are equipped with these life-saving systems. The Fire/EMS Department has documented hundreds of incidents since the law changed requiring residential sprinklers that demonstrate that lives have been saved and damage to property limited when fires have occurred. Prince George's County was the first County in the Nation to require the installation of residential sprinklers in all new home construction. Since the residential sprinkler law went into effect there has not been a single fire fatality in single family homes protected by this system.
Home, apartment, condos and commercial building owners and management companies should take the time now to ensure that sprinkler systems are adequately protected against pipes freezing. During long periods of below freezing temperatures exposed water-filled sprinkler pipes can freeze expanding the pipe to the point when it will break. Sprinkler pipes tend to freeze before other water pipes because the water is not moving. Most sprinkler systems are wet systems that contain water all the time.
When water freezes inside a sprinkler pipe, it creates an obstruction that can render the sprinkler system useless in the event of a fire. As the ice expands, it increases the internal water pressure in the pipe and causes the pipe to burst. Interestingly, the burst is often in a section of pipe that did not actually freeze.
Alternatively, the expanding ice can cause a pipe, fitting or sprinkler head to crack but the ice will block the flow of water while it is solid. In this case, the actual water damage will not be apparent until the ice melts and water flows out of the burst section.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
The best way to protect a residential fire sprinkler system from freezing is to provide sufficient insulation and maintain adequate heat during the winter months. Insulation helps block the flow of heat or cold from one space to the next. Most sprinkler pipes are within the walls or ceilings of a home. Cold air can enter these concealed spaces through small gaps in the exterior sheathing and insulation and find its way into pipe chases and soffits that focus the air directly onto the sprinkler piping and accelerate freezing.
In attics, piping should be as close to the ceiling as possible with insulation placed over the sprinkler pipe. If you can safely inspect your sprinkler pipes in the attic and you can see exposed pipes; they need to be insulated immediately to prevent freezing. An open attic hatch will allow heat to rise into the attic and could provide enough heat to keep pipes from freezing.
Plumbing pipes providing water to the inside are also prone to freezing during long periods of freezing temperatures. Open cabinet doors that house water pipes and allow the homes heat inside. Slightly open a faucet to allow a small trickle of water - flowing water is more difficult to freeze than standing water in pipes. Remember to shut off and drain the water to all outside hose bibs.
If a water pipe bursts ensure that the location of the water shut-off valve is known and the proper method to turn it off. Contact a residential sprinkler professional immediately to initiate repairs. It is recommended that a sprinkler system is tested and inspected on a periodic basis to ensure it is in proper working order to prevent against rupture and flooding.
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