How Do Building Fire Sprinklers Work?

What Are Fire Sprinklers?

Most modern buildings and quite a few residential homes are equipped with a sprinkler system. This system is designed to go off in case of a fire, providing a quick solution that doesn't depend on putting humans in harm's way, or waiting on the fire department to show up. These sprinkler systems are comprised of pipes in the ceilings and walls, bringing a water source to the individual sprinkler heads, located throughout the office. Many of these systems already have a large supply of water ready to go in the system, in case of a fire. This lets the sprinklers work without delay.

Function of Fire Sprinklers

Almost across the board, sprinkler systems are embedded into the ceiling of a home or office building. The sprinklers themselves are equipped with a fusible link. This link is designed in such a way that it melts when the temperature reaches a certain level. When this happens, the sprinkler automatically opens and begins discharging water from the pipes leading to it. Contrary to what is typically shown in movies, only one or two sprinklers usually go off in the case of a fire. The system is designed this way to minimize water damage, which can be nearly as expensive as the fire that caused them to activate.

Do They Work?

Fire sprinklers are one of the most effective ways to control fire damage in a home or office environment. According the the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), sprinklers are an important element in a total fire protection strategy in modern buildings. These sprinklers have been shown to cut the rate of fire related deaths in half in situations where they are installed correctly. The NFPA further advises that sprinklers not be used in any fashion other than for fire safety, as hanging things on the sprinkler heads or other misuse can lead to malfunction.

Resources

• National Fire Protection Association