Frequently Asked Questions
For over 30 years Sawyer Sprinkler Service has provided fire and life safety service through Vermont, New Hampshire, and beyond. We stand ready to answer and address any of your needs.
Fire Sprinkler Systems
How effective are fire sprinklers?In home fires deemed large enough to activate an operational sprinkler, sprinklers operated and were effective 99% of the time.
Installation of automatic fire sprinklers can reduce the average property loss by 74% per fire. See how effective fire sprinklers can be!
No! Most fires can be completely controlled with the activation of only one or two sprinklers. Fire hoses, on average, use more than 8 times the water that sprinklers do to contain a fire.
When compared to property or possible life loss, the cost for a sprinkler system is very, very minimul. Cost per square foot can vary widely due to installation requirements, Sawyer Sprinkler Service can address these questions with an onsite review and free estimate.
Backflow Prevention
Backflow is the undesirable reversal of flow of non potable water, contaminants or other substances through a cross-connection into the piping of a public water system or consumer's potable water system.
A cross-connection is any temporary or permanent connection between a public water system or consumer's drinking (potable) water system and any source or system containing non potable water or other substances.
Backpressure backflow is backflow caused by a downstream pressure that is greater than the upstream or supply pressure in a public water system or consumer's potable water system. Backpressure can result from an increase in downstream pressure, a reduction in the potable water supply pressure, or a combination of both. Increases in downstream pressure can be created by pumps, temperature increases in boilers or water heaters etc. Reductions in potable water supply pressure occur whenever the amount of water being used exceeds the amount of water being supplied, such as during water line flushing, fire fighting, or breaks in water mains.
A backflow preventer is a means or mechanism to prevent backflow. The basic means of preventing backflow is an air gap, which either eliminates a cross-connection or provides an open gap (physical separation) to prevent backflow. The basic mechanism for preventing backflow is a mechanical backflow preventer, which provides a physical barrier to backflow. The principal types of mechanical backflow preventer are the reduced-pressure principle assembly, the double check valve assembly, pressure vacuum breaker assembly and the standard vacuum breaker (like on residential irrigation systems). A secondary type of mechanical backflow preventer is the residential dual check valve.