Text Box: ABOUT FIRE SPRINKLERS Fire sprinklers are simple devices that are individually operated directly by heat from the fire. When a fire starts, a plume of hot gases rise to the ceiling. If a sprinkler is present a glass bulb or solder link in the sprinkler gets hot and breaks when it reaches a specific temperature. (Typically 57°C which releases a protective cover and at 68°C a sprinkler head releases a flow of water over the fire. The sprinkler head breaks up the water into carefully controlled droplets, which penetrate the fire plume and cool the burning material below its ignition point, thus putting the fire out. Only the sprinkler/s directly over the fire are activated. The sprinklers are connected to pipe work, usually filled with water, which is supplied either from water mains or from a storage tank via a pump or pressurization. When a sprinkler operates, the flow of water in the pipe work operates a flow switch or pressure switch, which in turn operates the alarm system. The flow of water from the sprinkler system is small, usually less than 1/100th of the water that would have been used by the fire service. Sprinklers do not go off accidentally and are only triggered by real fires. Burnt toast does not affect them. Sprinklers are very reliable and only 1:16,000,000 exhibit any form of manufacturing defect.

Fire Kills

FACT: Typically, a sprinkler will activate at a temperature of 68°C

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The typical sprinkler head consists of a

plug held in place by a trigger mechanism.

The most common type of trigger is a glass

ampule filled with a glycerin-based liquid that

expands when heated.

Sprinkler Detail.

1.

This liquid is

designed to

expand and break

the tube at a certain

temperature. The

most common are

designed to break at

155 degrees. In the

average sized room,

a 5mm diameter

ampule will usually

break in about one

to one and a half

minutes from

contact with a heat

source. Ampules as

thin as 1mm are

manufactured for a

faster response time.

2.

The plug breaks.

The plug is

forced out by

the pressurized

water behind it and

deflected away by a

beveled edge. The

water sprays over

the deflector plate

which is designed to

distribute it in an

even pattern. Water

will continue to flow

until the main valve

is shut off.

3.

Water can pass freely through.

How an uncontrolled fire spreads.

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Diagrams taken from the RSA

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