The emergency event just described can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. If the fire sprinklers are activated, there will most certainly be clean-up operations, requiring days and possibly weeks to complete. While this approach to fire safety affords excellent protection for the structure of the building, as well as its occupants, it is unacceptable for safeguarding critical hazard areas within the facility, such as a control room.
The primary problem associated with sprinkler-based protection is one of time. Since the typical fire sprinkler system doesn't operate until the air temperature reaches 500°F-1,000°F, sensitive electronic equipment and critical data have already been destroyed by the time the water is discharged. However, this may be the least of the facility manager's concerns, since the water itself-often contaminated-can do more damage than the fire.