We have had sprinklers in all new residence halls since 1982. I've been at the university since 1988 and in that time frame to the best of my recollections, we have had only two discharges from non-fire causes. One was an intentional act, but the student was not convicted, the other was from freezing in a stairwell when the cold weather overcame the heating unit when a door was left open.

You could use a dry pipe system, but personally I don't think it is worth the extra expense, unless the areas are subject to freezing.

Key to program is effective and frequent inspection of head inside of resident rooms by RAs who report any problem, like mirrors handing on heads, etc; so they can be inspected by knowledgeable personnel.

If anyone wants to discuss, please call me or post off the list.

Richard S. Wadleigh, CHCM, EMT
Associate Director of Public Safety
& Chief, EMS
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Road
Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701
(856) 256 4570
FAX (856) 256-4925

>>> [log in to unmask] 06/08/00 04:33PM >>>
As I continue to fight for installing sprinklers in our residence halls I
now have to argue: "if we put sprinklers in the student rooms we are going
to have major water problems". I understand the weakness in the argument,
but I need to address it... so I'm looking for facilities that sprinkler
their rooms and have they experienced or not experienced any "inadvertent"
activations.  I'd appreciate anyone who can provide any information or any
resources I could turn to, to help provide a basis to argue this point.
Thanks

Mark Cavanaugh CFPS
Fire Marshal
University of Rochester
300 East River Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623
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