Should insurance companies offer incentives for properties that own Shutgun?

 

FACT: Water damage claims from accidental fire sprinkler activations hurt the bottom line of Insurance companies and increase the premiums of property owners. Ross Humphry, President of Canadian Safety Equipment, encourages Canadian insurance companies to offer incentives to buildings that have the Shutgun on every floor. “It only makes sense,” he says, “as the insurance companies will be the ones to save money in the long run.”

Just one sprinkler activation can cost between $10,000 – to $50,000 in damage for the property owner. Shutgun can reduce the damage inflicted in those crucial minutes after a sprinkler head is activated. For hotel operators, this means the difference between a single room being out of operation for a few days to multiple rooms on many floors being unavailable for weeks.

Joe Fisco of Petra Risk Solutions in California agrees, "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."

An advocate for the Shutgun in the hotel industry, Joe continues by saying, "It's actually a 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!"