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How Do Fire Sprinklers Work

Sprinkler systems are among the most useful tools in your firefighting arsenal. Today’s
systems have been shown to reduce deaths and property loss by more than 65
percent.

For this reason, fire sprinklers are certainly something you want in your commercial
property! But how do fire sprinklers work? We answer how commercial fire sprinklers
save your company from significant damage.

Step 1: Fire Sprinklers Detect Heat

Contrary to popular belief, fire sprinklers are not trigged by smoke. It’s an easy mistake
to make, since heat is carried upward with smoke from a fire. But if smoke was the
trigger, simply burning your toast in the office kitchen could be enough to drench the
kitchen with water from a fire sprinkler head.

Fire sprinklers work because high heat triggers the sprinkler system. When a blaze
ignites, the air directly above it heats rapidly. This hot air rises and spreads along the
ceiling. When the air is hot enough and reaches a sprinkler head, it triggers a chain
reaction.

Most sprinkler heads feature a glass bulb filled with a glycerin-based liquid. This liquid
expands when it comes in contact with air heated to between 135 and 165 degrees.
When the liquid expands, it shatters(800)
its glass confines and the sprinkler head activates.
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Step 2: Fire Sprinklers Douse the Fire
Each sprinkler head is attached to a pipe that connects to a reliable water source
outside the building. When heat activates a sprinkler head, a valve opens, allowing
pressurized water from the pipe system to flow out.

It’s important for water in a fire sprinkler system to be pressurized. This allows the
water to spray outward in an arc to more thoroughly douse the fire and prevent it from
reigniting.

Step 3: Fire Sprinklers Minimize Water Damage

In movies, sprinkler systems operate in a misleading way, leading many people to
believe a fallacy that all the sprinklers in a system are tied together and when one is
triggered by heat, they all activate.

If this was the case, putting out a fire would simply be trading fire damage for water
damage, and it’s not how fire sprinklers work.

Fortunately, sprinkler heads function individually. Most of the time, fires can be
completely extinguished after just one or two sprinklers activate. This allows water
damage to be confined to the small area where the fire started. Plus, since fire
sprinklers douse fires with about six times less water than a fire hose, their quick action
is actually less damaging to your property than a visit from the fire department.

Fire Sprinkler Installation & Inspection In the DC Area

Whether you need fire sprinklers installed, tested, inspected or repaired, contact
Guardian Fire Protection today. As an experienced fire protection company with 30
years of experience servicing fire sprinklers, you know you can trust our knowledgeable
team to bring your building up to code so it’s safer from fires. At Guardian Fire
Protection, we know how fire sprinklers work.

Contact Us Today!
A Guardian representative will contact you within 24 hours.