July 6, 1999

An automatic fire sprinkler system had recently been installed in a multi-tenant office/warehouse building on Opportunity
Court in Minnetonka. Prior to leaving for the weekend, the sprinkler contractor filled the system with water and added 200
lbs. of air pressure (this is common industry practice to check for leaks over an extended period of time). The main
sprinkler control valve was then shut off as the system was not yet connected to a central station monitoring alarm.

On Tuesday, July 6 Minnetonka Fire Inspector Phil Minnell arrived at the building to witness the final acceptance test for
this newly installed system. Once there, he and the sprinkler contractor found two sprinkler heads leaking. Upon closed
examination, and in speaking with the tenant, it was discovered that a fire had occurred over the weekend in a piece of
machinery that had ignited an adjacent workbench and plastic garbage can. The fire had been extinguished by the two
sprinklers discharging the water that was in the pipes for the acceptance test. Damage was minimal and even the water
damage was insignificant. Inspector Minnell advised that the damage was so minimal that it was difficult to discover that
there had been a fire.

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