A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure that automatically discharges water to suppress or extinguish fires. It’s a network of pipes, usually with water under pressure, connected to sprinkler heads that activate when heat from a fire reaches a specific temperature. These systems are designed to detect and control fires, minimizing damage and allowing time for evacuation. Sprinklers provide an immediate response to a fire, often extinguishing or containing it before it can spread.
Types of fire sprinkler systems
The most common type, where pipes are constantly filled with pressurized water, ready for immediate discharge.
Used in unheated areas prone to freezing, these systems contain pressurized air or nitrogen, which is released before water enters the pipes upon activation.
Requiring two triggers (a fire detection system activation and sprinkler head activation) before water release, these systems are suitable for sensitive environments like data centers or museums where accidental water discharge could be damaging.
All sprinkler heads are open in these systems, and water is released simultaneously through all heads when activated by a fire detection system. They are used in high-hazard areas where rapid fire spread is a concern.
Designed for flammable liquid fires, these systems use a mixture of water and foam concentrate to extinguish the blaze.