How Do Fire Sprinklers Work?

A fire sprinkler system is designed to operate over a predetermined floor area and needs to be designed by an expert. Fire sprinkler supply pipes are permanently charged with water from the domestic water main.

Fire sprinklers are fitted to the system of supple pipes and each is an independant unit and operates only if the fire causes it to do so. Each fire sprinkler is fitted with a small thermal element (bulb) activated by heat from a fire, and set to operate at not less than 30C above ambient temperature, making accidental activation very unlikely other than in a fire condition.

In the majority of fires just one sprinkler head is operated which is normally sufficient to deal with the fire.