Understanding Sprinkler Operation and Its

Different Types

FF Design- Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

Convective Heat Flow in Fires
Approximately 92 percent to 98 percent of the heat that a heat
detector/Sprinklers receives is carried to the detector/sprinkler in the hot
air and combustion product gases of the ceiling jet created by the fire

The ceiling jet is approximately 10 percent of the distance from the base of
the fire to the ceiling

FF Design- Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

 Primary Purpose of Sprinkler Spray

1. It delivers water to the burning

material and reduces the combustion
rate by preventing further generation
of combustible vapor.
2. It wets the surrounding material which
reduces the flame spread rate
3. It cools the surrounding air by
evaporation and displaces air with
inert water vapor.

FF Design- Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

Sprinkler Design Purposes
1. Sprays from sprinklers located directly above the fire must have
sufficient vertical momentum to penetrate the fire plume and reach
the burning commodity.
2. Spray from sprinklers located in the ceiling jet must have sufficient
horizontal momentum to counteract the ceiling jet flow and reach
the burning commodity positioned between sprinklers
3. The spray must absorb enough heat from the plume and ceiling jet
to lower the temperatures to an acceptable level

FF Design- Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)