Shutgun, Fire Sprinkler Deactivation Tool, Saves Insurance Companies Money from Water Damage Claims

PR Web

(PRWEB) April 12, 2012

Water damage claims from accidental fire sprinkler activations hurt the bottom line of Insurance companies and increase the premiums of property owners. Shutgun, an innovative Fire Sprinkler Deactivation Tool, can reduce these problems. When a sprinkler head is activated shutting it off quickly is critical. Minutes can mean the difference between a single room being out of operation for a few days to multiple rooms on many floors being unavailable for weeks.

Ross Humphry, President of Canadian Safety Equipment, says that he is encouraging Canadian insurance companies to offer incentives to buildings that have the Shutgun on every floor. “It only makes sense,” he adds, “as the insurance companies will be the ones to save money in the long run.”

Other industry specialists agree. Joe Fisco of Petra Risk Solutions in California says, "I believe that insurance companies should offer a credit to property owners who have Shutguns in every fire hose cabinet in their buildings. The bottom line is that water damage is costly and the Shutgun can greatly reduce the amount of money that gets paid out in water damage claims." Joe, who is an advocate for the Shutgun in the hotel industry, continues by saying, "It's actually a win/win/win for everyone. The insurance companies save money and the building owners and fire departments save time, money and productivity. Is the Shutgun worth an incentive? Absolutely!"

A fire sprinkler head that is activated and not immediately shut off can easily cause tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Greg Patterson, President of Technicraft Product Design Inc., says, “In some ways the Shutgun is insurance for the insurance companies and it has proven its value in real life situations.”

Shutgun, designed by a Toronto District Fire Chief of 35 years, provides fire fighters, emergency response teams and property managers with a one-handed, easy-to-use fire sprinkler shut off tool. With the Shutgun you do not need to shut off the water supply to the sprinkler system until it is time to change the head thus giving you continued fire protection. You even have protection at the site of the activation because Shutgun’s fusible link will melt and the tool will release in the event of a fire. Also, while the system is being drained, water will not be escaping from the activated head. Shutgun works to shut off most types of sprinkler heads including the recessed style now popular in commercial complexes.