Fire Sprinkler FAQ

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

Everything You Need To Know About Fire Sprinklers

Fire sprinklers are tools designed to immediately dispense water in the event of a fire. The sprinklers can be found in many public buildings including stores, schools, and restaurants, as well as residential buildings like apartments and condos. Considering these fire sprinklers are not as commonly found in homes, many of us know little to nothing about how these devices work. These sprinklers are an essential part of commercial fire safety and it is important for us to understand how they operate. We will cover some of the most common fire sprinkler related questions and give an easy to understand explanation, just keep reading.

Q: How are the sprinkler systems activated?

A: A large increase or spike in air temperature will cause the sprinkler to dispense water. A glass bulb filled with a heat sensitive liquid holds a plug keeping the water from releasing. As the heat reaches the sprinkler, the heat sensitive liquid will expand causing the glass to burst, releasing the plug,allowing the water to be dispensed onto the fire below.

Q: Will smoke cause the fire sprinklers to activate?

A: No, only an alarming spike in air temperature will cause the sprinkler to activate.

Q: Will the activation of one fire sprinkler result in all of them turning on at once?

A: No, an increase in heat will result in the glass tube breaking, releasing the plug allowing the sprinkler to release water. As a result, only the sprinklers located near the heat source (fire) will be activated.

Q: Do fire sprinklers accidentally go off?

A: This is extremely uncommon as the sprinklers are engineered to only go off when they detect temperatures upwards of 130 degrees fahrenheit.  

Q: Can fire sprinklers go bad?

A: Yes, just like most electronics they can go bad over time. It is important that these sprinklers are regularly checked by the authorized parties. 

Fire sprinklers are a very important aspect of fire safety and can be the difference in putting out fires. If you are ever near a fire sprinkler that begins dispensing water, find safety as soon as possible. As previously mentioned, these sprinklers rarely accidentally discharge, meaning that there is likely a fire very close by. These sprinklers can be used in residential areas as well to better protect them from fire related damages. If you are interested in fire sprinklers for your home, you can learn more about them here on the National Fire Protection Association website..

For other tips on fire and water cleanup & restoration, SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County is here to assist you. Find helpful information on our blog, and for any disaster, call us, day or night, at (704) 840-6112.

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