06-16-2011, 10:04 AM
I just saw this post. I think all of the industrial buildings are required to have permanently installed sprinklers systems as well as the city fire hydrants. I think those valves are external shut off valves to allow the sprinkler system to be shut off from outside as well as to allow shutting off the water to service the systems. They may be the water main for water supply to everything inside the building including the sprinklers. I never paid much attention to them, but it seems to me every commercial or industrial building I've seen has those or similar valves.