- What is a Fire Sprinkler?
- A fire sprinkler is one component of a fire sprinkler system.
The sprinkler itself is commonly called a 'sprinkler head' or
just the 'sprinkler'. The sprinkler head is tied to a network
of pipes that delivers a fire retardant onto a fire. Water is
the most common type fire retardant used in commercial and residential
systems. There are two primary types of sprinkler heads, Automatic
fire sprinklers and Open head sprinklers.
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 How Does A Fire
Sprinkler Work?
- An Automatic fire sprinkler is held in a closed state by
a glass bulb or a two-part metal link. These 'links' or 'bulbs'
use pressure to hold a cap in place which acts as a plug in the
system. These links are designed to break at a specified temperature.
When heat from a fire rises to a set temperature, the metal link
will melt or the glass bulb will break. This releases the cap
and allows water to flow through the opening onto the deflector
which sprays the water over the coverage area.
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- The glass bulb is usually filled with a fluid consisting
of a non-toxic proprietary glycerin solution. The size of the
air bubble within the glass tube determines the heat level needed
to break the glass bulb and release the plug.
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- The color of the bulb helps identify the level of temperature
needed to break the bulb and activate the sprinkler head.
- 135-170 Degrees = Red
- 175-225 Degrees = Green
- 250-300 Degrees = Blue
- 325-375 Degrees = Purple
- 400-650 Degrees = Black
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- The picture of the flowing head (shown in the section below)
shows a conventional style head, which are pretty much obsolete.
That kind of sprinkler was based on the idea that it was advantageous
to put some of the water upward to cool the ceiling.FM testing
later showed that cooling the ceiling was much less effective
than applying all of the water downward to the fire. All modern
sprinklers spray water in a downward parabolic pattern. You can
literally sit on the sprinkler piping without getting wet by
the sprinkler.
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 Conventional sprinklers
are used in special situations and are required for some installations.
When sprinklers cover a pier, they are installed below the fire.
In that case conventional heads are used to spray the fire from
below. We have yet to see sprinklers on a pier however.
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- A metal link sprinkler like the one shown to the left, come
in many proprietary shapes and designs. Each one operates in
the same basic manner. Heat from a fire rises to the head and
melts the metal link. Once the link has been compromised, the
head releases the cap and opens the sprinkler for water to spay
over the coverage area. Most metal link sprinklers also utilize
some form of spring device to ensure all the cap components "spring"
out of the head and away from the cap. This is a fail safe measure
to ensure the head will not fail or be encumbered in some way
by the link parts.
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- An Open Fire Sprinkler (or open nozzle) is a sprinkler head
that does not have a heat-sensitive element. Water is not present
in the piping system until needed. These heads rely on a fire
alarm system to release water at a control valve installed on
some other location of the system.
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- Fire Sprinkler Categories:
- There are several categories of sprinklers that most manufactures
adhere to. The categories help organize the types of coverage
areas that require a sprinkler. But each category may cover varying
types of hazards for that space.
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- Standard Spray Sprinklers
Standard spray sprinklers are used in light, ordinary, or extra
hazard commercial occupancies.
- Extended Coverage Sprinklers
Extended spray sprinklers are used in light or ordinary hazard
commercial occupancies. The main difference between standard
and extended spray is that the extended coverage sprinkler lets
you use fewer heads for the same area; provided they calculate
on the system.
- Storage Sprinklers
As their name implies, these are special designed sprinklers
for most any kind of storage occupancies. This can include mechanical
parts, lumber, canned foods etc.
- Residential Sprinklers
These sprinklers are used only for residential occupancy. They
are designed with ascetics in mind, but are just as functional
as other sprinkler heads.
 Dry Sprinklers
Dry sprinklers are designed to be installed in areas of buildings
where the sprinklers or water supply pipes may be subject to
freezing, such as unheated attics, freezers and coolers, parking
garages, porches and warehouses. Dry heads are primarily used
on dry systems where you want a pendant head installed.
- Special Sprinklers
Once again as their name implies, these are special sprinkler
heads designed to protect special areas. For example, special
heads with coatings for corrosive areas. Attic heads are designed
to protect attic areas with sloped roofs.
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- Fire Sprinkler Types:
- There are four different types of sprinkler heads. These
define the location and type of spray the head will deliver to
a fire.
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- Pendants - This is the most common sprinkler used in commercial
buildings. They extends down from the ceiling and spray streams
downward over the deflector.
- Uprights - Sit on top of the piping and spray up towards
the deflector which disperses water downward over the coverage
area.
- Sidewalls - These heads come out of the wall to protect hall
ways or small rooms.
- Special Coverage - This type of sprinkler head is designed
to protect special areas. For example, special heads with coatings
for corrosive areas or to match decorative areas. Attic heads
are designed to protect attic areas with sloped roofs.
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- INTEGRITY
has designed several commercial, industrial and residential sprinkler
systems for our clients. We have the knowledge and experience
to help you lay out a plan and design a system that's right for
your business or home. You can learn more about INTEGRITY, our experience and
services by visiting our Home page
or calling us at 704.888.5510
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- Copyright 2010 - Integrity Fire Services Inc.
- Duplication of any material, in whole or in part, is strictly
prohibited.
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