Fire safety is important because it can help protect people and property from the dangers of fire.
Fire sprinklers are one type of fire safety equipment that can help to extinguish or control a fire. They work by using pressurized air or water to break through the glycerin-based liquid that is used to extinguish the fire. This process helps to cool down the area and prevent the fire from spreading.
One of the most common challenges people face when it comes to fire sprinklers is not knowing how they work. If you don’t know how something works, it can be difficult to properly maintain it or even use it properly in an emergency. This guide will explain how fire sprinklers work and why they are an important part of fire safety.
How Do Fire Sprinklers Work
Fire sprinklers are an important part of fire safety because they can help to extinguish a fire before it has a chance to spread. In many cases, fire sprinklers are the first line of defence against fires.
When a fire starts, the temperature at the sprinkler head rises between 135 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This causes the glycerine-based liquid inside the glass bulb to expand and break the glass. The heat from the flames then activates the fire sprinkler closest to the fire. This causes pressurized water to flow from the sprinkler head, which puts out the fire. The amount of water that is released from the sprinkler head is determined by the design of the sprinkler system.
It is important to note that fire sprinklers are not designed to put out large fires. They are only meant to help control the spread of fires until the fire department arrives.
The different types of fire sprinklers
There are four main types of fire sprinklers: wet pipe, dry pipe, pre-action, and deluge.
Wet pipe systems are the most common type of fire sprinkler system. They are also the simplest to maintain because they do not require any special preparation before use. With a wet pipe system, water is always present in the pipes and is released when the sprinkler heads are activated.
A dry pipe system is a type of sprinkler system that uses pressurized air to keep water from flowing into the pipes until a fire activates the system. When the system is activated, a valve opens and allows water to flow into the pipes and out of the sprinklers.
Pre-action systems are similar to wet pipe systems in that they also have water present in the pipes at all times. However, with a pre-action system, the water is not released until two conditions are met: the sprinkler heads must be activated, and an alarm must sound. This type of system is often used in places where a fire is more likely to occur, such as in a laboratory or computer room.
Deluge systems are the most complex type of fire sprinkler system. With a deluge system, water is not stored in the pipes at all times. Instead, water is only released when the sprinkler heads are activated. This type of system is often used in areas where a fire is more likely to occur, such as in a factory.
How To Maintain Your Fire Sprinkler System
It is important to regularly inspect your fire sprinkler system to ensure that it is in good working order. You should also have your system serviced by a professional every few years.
Why water puts out fires?
Water is an effective fire extinguisher because it cools the fuel and deprives the fire of oxygen. When water is sprayed on a burning liquid, it cools the fuel and prevents the fire from spreading. Water also absorbs heat, which takes away the heat energy that the fire needs to continue burning.
In order for a fire to continue burning, it needs three things: heat, fuel, and oxygen. Water takes away two of these things (heat and oxygen), which makes it an effective fire extinguisher.
- Repair or replace any damaged or defective parts of the sprinkler system.
- Test the repaired or replaced sprinkler system to ensure it is working properly.
Why Are Fire Sprinkler Systems Important?
As everyone knows, many commercial buildings are equipped with professional sprinkler systems. In fact, most cities and states mandate that structures of a certain construction type or specific types of business must, by law, have a sprinkler system installed.
Understanding the importance of sprinkler systems will allow you to see why proper maintenance and testing is needed. It will also ensure that your sprinkler systems are installed, primed, and ready to go in your hour of need.
- They Save Lives
More than anything, the protection of life should always be the number one priority in any situation. When it comes to fire safety systems, nothing protects life more than a properly maintained automatic sprinkler system.
- They cut potential losses in half
The aftermath of a fire can be devastating to businesses, but sprinklers improve things dramatically. It has been discovered that, when paired with other early warning fire/life safety systems, automatic fire sprinklers are capable of reducing property damage, injuries, and death by more than 50%.
- They contain the problem before it rages out of control
Smoke detectors, heat detectors, and flame detectors can all warn building occupants of a fire, but they can’t do anything to contain the situation. As soon as an automatic sprinkler head is heated to a specific temperature, it will open and start deluging the flame with water and will not stop until the fire department turns off the water supply.
- They need little maintenance
In order for a fire sprinkler system to turn on, the bulb or fuse located within an individual sprinkler head needs to be heated to a specific temperature. This means that individual sprinklers are activated only in the event of a true fire.
The installation and ongoing maintenance of a sprinkler system should be a top priority for your business.
Do all fire sprinkler systems work the same way?
No, there are three different types of fire sprinkler systems: wet pipe, pre-action, and deluge. Each system works slightly differently.
You should have your fire sprinkler system inspected regularly by a professional. Wet pipe systems should be inspected once a month, while pre-action and deluge systems should be inspected.
How much water will be released if a sprinkler is activated?
The amount of water that is released from the sprinkler head is determined by the design of the sprinkler system. Some fire sprinkler systems are designed to only activate the sprinklers closest to the fire, while others are designed to activate all of the sprinklers in the system.
How do automatic sprinkler systems work
The clock timer turns the sprinkler system on and off at set intervals, while the moisture sensor only activates the sprinklers when the ground is dry. Depending on the model, automatic sprinklers can be programmed to water specific areas for different amounts of time. This type of irrigation system is beneficial because it saves water and time, and can be customized to specific landscapes.
At what temperature do fire sprinklers go off?
Fire sprinklers are designed to go off at a predetermined temperature. This temperature is generally between 135 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact temperature depends on the type of sprinkler used. Some sprinklers are designed to go off at lower temperatures to protect against fires that burn more slowly, while others are designed to go off at higher temperatures to protect against fast-moving fires.
In a nutshell, fire sprinklers are a vital part of any fire safety plan. They can help control the spread of fires until the fire department arrives. It is important to regularly inspect your fire sprinkler system and have it serviced by a professional every few years.
