[Greenbuilding] Sprinklers

[Tom Gorman]

One possibility for a limited sprinkler system (kitchen, mech. room)  
with a bit of flood insurance might be to use a dedicated pressure  
tank (of the sort often found to maintain even water pressure in  
houses served by a well with a pump) for the sprinkler branch.  Run a  
line off your main water supply through a valve to the pressure tank  
then from the tank to you sprinkler system.  Let your main water  
pressure 'charge up' the tank then close the valve.  Your sprinkler  
protection would be limited by the capacity of the tank (they come in  
various sizes, though generally fairly small), but it may be enough  
to put out a small fire before it runs dry and won't keep soaking  
until someone comes and shuts it off.  Just an idea.