Shutgun Prez Talks Up International Success

President of Technicraft Product Design Inc., and co-inventor of Shutgun, Greg Patterson, was recently featured on a popular Business Podcast discussing Shutgun and its decision to go international, checklists for businesses working with distributors and the quality measures he has taken with his Canadian invention.
Click here to listen to the interview http://bit.ly/IntnlChecklist

 Here are some highlights:

 “Although we have the product made in China, we ship materials from Canada to use to ensure good quality.

 "I have built great relationships in the last 30 years with China so problems that other manufacturers have with using parts made in China, we’ve been able to avoid.

 “In 2007 the international fire sprinkler association estimated that the annual installation of fire sprinkler heads globally was 117 million. Only half of those were in north America.

 “Since 2010, we now have distributors in US, Canada, UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and we’re always looking for more!

 "The biggest surprise has been the value that various countries put on a life. Consequently, certain countries don't require sprinkler systems where we would."

Condo Flood Disaster Caused by Sprinkler Activation

BAY CITY, MI — Firefighters responded to report of fire at Bay City's Boathouse condominiums on Saturday, July 13, but found themselves dealing with a cascade of water instead.
At about 1:30 p.m., part of the sprinkler system inside the five-floor building at 1111 N. Water was activated. That apparently caused a large pipe in the building's foyer to burst, sending a cascade onto the floor, officials said.

Read More..

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2013/07/bay_city_firefighters_respond_1.html

Europe and Middle East bumping up Shutgun orders

 

Shutgun is pleased to expand on its international customer base through Total Fire Protection B.V. who is our distributor in Europe and Middle East. They have purchased additional 16 cases (or 640 shutguns) for their stock.

 Shutgun looks forward to assisting TFP who has been our distributor since August 2011 and have been a valued partner along with our other foreign distributors. 

BED BUG ISSUE HEATS UP

Hot new treatment poses concerns for sprinkler systems

With a current national resurgence of bed bugs, along with a decrease in effectiveness of treatments such as chemicals and pesticides, pest control companies are relying on a new technique called Heat Remediation to scourge the unruly pests.

The process relies on piping hot air into the room and heating its core temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48C) or higher, causing the bugs to inevitably reach their thermal ‘death point’.

While proven effective on bed bugs, the process of heat remediation does not come without its own fire and safety risks to the building’s sprinkler system.

 “This is essentially a convection oven effect, and could lead to triggering fire alarm sensors, or worse, damaging or setting off the sprinkler system,” said Greg Patterson, former engineer and co-inventor of the Shutgun, a sprinkler shut off tool designed for hotel, construction and emergency medical service industries. “If a sprinkler head is accidentally set off, you can also add water damage to your list of problems.”

 With heat remediation, it would take approximately 20 minutes heated at 46C to kill adult bugs, and over an hour to kill their eggs.

 “With temperatures reaching above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, there is concern that the sprinkler heads could potentially be damaged or set off by such an increase in temperature,” said Eli Scardoni, former Toronto District Fire Chief.

 “To avoid damage, it is standard practice to cover the sprinkler heads with insulated boxes while the temperature is closely monitored. However, it is wise to always have a backup plan in place in case the sprinkler is set off by the heat,” he said.

 Some people have rented industrial and thermal heaters in an attempt to mimic the heat remediation process. “What we don’t want is people trying it themselves and running into an insurance or fire safety issue if an accident does occur,” said Greg Grabow, President of Temp-Air, a Heat Remediation equipment supplier. “Being prepared is the most important thing.” 

 Shutgun is a one handed tool designed with a unique fusible link that will melt and release in a case of fire flare up allowing the sprinkler to operate as normal. This means it can be left in place and the building’s fire sprinkler system remains fully operational.

 

For more info on a University of Kentucky study to test concept of heat to remove bed bugs from hotel rooms, click here.

For article by National Fire Sprinkler Association and Westfield Insurance on threat of heat remediation to sprinklers, click here.

NURSING HOMES WISE TO AVOID SPRINKLER MISHAPS

 

We at Shutgun are happy and supportive of the government’s recent legislation to have all Ontario retirement homes and long-term care facilities equipped with an automatic water sprinkler system.

 
“This is truly great news for the safety of all senior and long term care residents in Ontario,” said Greg Patterson, fire sprinkler advocate and  co-owner of Shutgun.ca.
 

“However, along with the security and comfort that the sprinklers will provide, it comes with the inevitable mishaps and accidents that could create discomfort and confusion among retirement residents and for the nursing home.”

The new regulations will take effect January 1,  2014 and will call for more inspections, extra training for staff and a review of each facility’s fire safety plan.

“We are trying to encourage that each building’s plan includes a way to safety and quickly shut off each sprinkler’s water supply if an accident does occur,” said Greg Patterson.

 An accidental sprinkler discharge could not only create damage and confusion, but with water flowing at pressures up to 25  gallons per minute  it could flood a small unit in mere minutes.

 
“Once you have to start displacing residents as a result of water damage or cleanup, it becomes a much larger issue of cost and headaches for the nursing home manager,” said Patterson.
 

“As always, having a Shutgun on hand for single, sprinkler deactivation is the safest, fastest solution for building managers to avoid disrupting their residents and their operations.”

 

AVOID INCREASED INSURANCE PREMIUMS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE

 

Sprinkler shut off time proves critical for building managers

(Collingwood, ON – April 12, 2013)  In regards to water damage, the fact is that insurance deductibles are increasing for commercial buildings and residential facilities. In the interest of saving cash, building owners are willing to pay more out of pocket for minor issues rather than watch their premiums rise.

But what if the damage has less to do with leaky pipes and failing fixtures and involves the main sprinkler system? Industry experts explain why the amount of damage inflicted by fire sprinkler activation should not be overlooked or underestimated.

“A fire sprinkler head that is activated and not immediately shut off can easily cause tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage,” said Greg Patterson, President of Shutgun, a tool designed to shut off fire sprinkler water flow instantly.

Barry McGrory is Labour manager with Commodore Builders, “In my experience, if a sprinkler is set off in a condo or apartment building, the real damage is to the floors below, so stopping the flow of water becomes even more critical for the owner.”

With water from a sprinkler head releasing at flow rates exceeding 25 gallons per minute, mere 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.

In cases of water damage claims from sprinkler activation, only a small percentage are the result of actual fires – the rest are accidental activations. This leaves contractors, service people and maintenance personnel in a very susceptible position.

Gregory Orndorff is with A1 FloodTech and has witnessed firsthand, the harmful effects of water damage both on the buildings and on a property’s insurance premiums.

“When we get to a building and the flood is still occurring, the first thing we have to do is stop the source of water,” he says.

In many municipalities, the building manager is not allowed to shut off the building’s main water supply until the fire department has arrived but can shut off the activated sprinkler head. These minutes are crucial in terms of damage inflicted.

“If the building owner is assuming more responsibility in order to not put a claim on their insurance, then having a device to stop water flow becomes crucial if it means you are on the hook for every $5000, $15,000 or $35,000 issue.”

Shutgun was designed with a built in fusible link, which releases and allows the sprinkler head to reactivate, thus providing continued fire protection.

“Of course, a building’s first priority is safety,” said Patterson. “If there is a solution which allows you to operate ‘business as usual’ faster – I think building managers would be wise to take it.”

 

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Shutgun has become a tool box staple for building managers, superintendents and contractors. Conceived by a Toronto District Fire Chief of 35 years, Shutgun is a one-handed, easy-to-use fire sprinkler shut off tool. Shutgun avoids shutting off the main water supply to the sprinkler system, thus giving continued fire protection to all units. Shutgun shuts off most types of sprinkler heads including the semi-recessed style now popular in commercial complexes. www.shutgun.ca

Media: Amanda Sutton 705-791-7209  amanda@catalystcc.ca

Shutgun: Greg Patterson 1-866-827-8711    Greg@technicraftdesign.com   

SHUTGUN PROVES THE BEST INSURANCE AGAINST WATER DAMAGE CLAIMS

 

Safety supplier promotes sprinkler shut off tool to facilities, hospitals and property owners

(Collingwood, ON – March 7, 2013)  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, was designed to shut off the activated sprinkler head quickly, isolating the source of water and avoiding further headaches.

 “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,” said Greg Patterson, President of Technicraft Product Design Inc. and inventor of Shutgun. “If the damage exceeds a property’s deductable, usually $2,500 – it’s the insurance company who will be paying that out of their pocket, and property owners will watch their premiums rise.”

Ross Humphry is President of Canadian Safety Equipment, Shutgun’s leading distributor in Canada. His reps have sold cases of the tool across the country to hotels, military bases, fire departments and hospitals. “I would encourage Canadian insurance companies to offer incentives to building owners that have a Shutgun on every floor,” he says. “It only makes sense, as the insurance companies will be the ones to save money in the long run.”

With water from a sprinkler head releasing at flow rates exceeding 25 gallons per minute, mere 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.

Joe Fisco of Petra Risk Solutions in California says, “The bottom line is that water damage is costly and this tool can greatly reduce the amount of money that gets paid out in water damage claims.” Fisco is an advocate for Shutgun in the hotel industry and continues by saying, “It also means time and resources saved by fire departments that are called on scene to shut off a building’s water source.”

Both Patterson and Humphry have met with representatives in the insurance industry about offering a credit to property owners who keep a Shutgun with every fire extinguisher, and have been met with positive response.

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Conceived by a Toronto District Fire Chief of 35 years, Shutgun provides property managers and emergency responders with a one-handed, easy-to-use fire sprinkler shut off tool. Shutgun avoids shutting off the main water supply to the sprinkler system, thus giving continued fire protection. A fusible link provides fire protection by melting and releasing the tool in the event of a fire thus reactivating the sprinkler. Shutgun shuts off most types of sprinkler heads including the semi-recessed style now popular in commercial complexes. www.shutgun.ca

Media: Amanda Sutton 705-791-7209  amanda@catalystcc.ca

Shutgun: Greg Patterson 1-866-827-8711    Greg@technicraftdesign.com