New Device Cuts Down On Sprinkler Water Damage ~ Gadgets online

Having a fire is bad enough, but the cure can actually make a bad situation a whole lot worse. Structures that are equipped with sprinkler systems have an excellent built in defense against fire, unfortunately, the water from the sprinkler system can cause as much, if not more, damage than the fire would have.

Sprinklers put out an incredible amount of water in a concentrated area, which can soak into and destroy furniture, appliances, carpeting, flooring, drywall, and electrical systems. Water can also set the stage for mold, which can establish in as little as 48 hours, spread rapidly, and be very difficult to properly remediate.

So is there a way by which a property owner can extinguish a fire without having the solution become an even bigger problem?

The answer is yes. A new product called the Shutgun is an industry crafted solution, developed by a former Toronto Fire Chief, and is designed to shut sprinkler systems off once a fire is out, but before more damage can be done by the water, keeping extinguisher related damage to a minimum.

Built in response to a need seen by many emergency response teams, the Shutgun is a pocket sized tool that can shut off all types of sprinkler heads, even the new recessed versions commonly found in newer structures.

Before the Shutgun, firefighters had to rely on a primitive wedge to shut the sprinkler system off, a method that was prone to failure.

The Shutgun uses a fusible link to hold the device in place, keeping the sprinkler shut off. Should the fire rekindle, the fusible link will melt, allowing the device to drop off and the sprinkler to restart.

And remember that it isn't always fire that triggers a sprinkler system. A tenant's child throws a baseball down the hall. A chair bumps a sprinkler head during an office move. A factory machine overheats and lets off hot steam. A college dorm has a party and a decoration was ill-hung at a shopping mall. All these events may cause thousands of dollars in damage from accidental sprinkler activation without a Shutgun in hand.

In addition, all materials used to produce the Shutgun are 100% recyclable.