Recent changes to local, national, and international building codes include requirements for the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in new construction, including single-family homes. As more and more buildings are equipped with these systems, the likelihood of an inadvertent discharge (i.e. the accidental release of water from the system when there is not a fire) increases. The damage caused by water inadvertently discharged from an automatic fire sprinkler system can be substantial. Proper investigation of these failures by forensic engineers is critical to determining the root cause of the discharge. Based on prior forensic investigations of this type, six major root causes have been identified for inadvertent automatic fire sprinkler system discharges: (1) overheating; (2) freezing; (3) mechanical damage; (4) corrosion; (5) deliberate sabotage; and (6) manufacturing defect. This paper discusses these causes, examines historical loss data, and provides guidance for a forensic engineer performing a root cause analysis.
展开▼
