What are the white discs so visible on the ceilings of the East House?
The circular, white discs on the ceilings of the East Wing are plastic caps used to hide sprinkler heads which would otherwise be clearly visible. The caps are soldered on, and designed to fall away upon exposure to sufficient heat. Both sides of the Mansion are protected by a “dry pipe” type of sprinkler system. This means that the pipes of the system are filled with pressurized air, not water. Loss of air pressure triggers a water valve to open, filling the system with water. While the systems were designed and installed to be as inconspicuous as possible, sprinkler heads and associated piping are clearly visible in numerous locations on both sides of the Mansion.
