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| How Do Fire
Sprinklers Work? |
| Fire sprinklers are essentially heat
detectors. Only heat from a fire will activate a fire sprinkler and,
unlike in films and commercials, only the sprinkler(s) nearest the seat
of the fire will activate.
A sprinkler system consists of a water supply with one or more installations. Each installation includes a control valve and a pipe array fitted with sprinkler heads.
Sprinklers are designed to activate at specific temperatures and are available in a variety of temperature ratings, from 57 to 260o
C, depending upon the risk and operating conditions.
A glass bulb sprinkler head comprises a body, seal, glass bulb and deflector. The glass bulb is the heat sensitive element. The heat from a fire causes the liquid in the bulb to expand and, when it reaches the pre-determined temperature it will shatter, releasing the seal valve and allowing a water to be distributed by the deflector in a controlled pattern onto the seat of the fire.
The flow of water initiates a fire alarm and alerts you or passers-by. The same result is ensured with a fusible link sprinkler where the link melts at the pre-determined temperature. In either instance, the sprinkler heads are individually activated by heat, so only the sprinklers in the immediate vicinity of the fire will operate.
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| Related Topics: Domestic Fire
Sprinklers, Fire Alarms, Fire
Extinguishers, Fire Risk Assessments,
F.A.Q's |
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