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HowFireSprinklerSystemsWork|HowStuffWorks
You've probably seen a number of movies where a small amount of smoke triggers all of the sprinklers in a building, soaking everyone and
everything inside. But did you know that sprinklers aren't even triggered by smoke, and they don't all go o at once? Fire sprinkler systems are
actually heat activated, one sprinkler head at a time, and most fires usually require only one or two sprinklers to be extinguished. These are just
two of the many misconceptions about fire sprinkler systems. In this article, we'll dispel other myths and learn the ins and outs of this important
safety technology.
You might think installing a fire sprinkler system is like choosing water damage over fire damage. This belief is a spino from the myths we just
mentioned -- that sprinklers are activated by smoke and every sprinkler head goes o at the same time. If that were the case, sprinkler systems
could potentially cause more harm than good. Aer all, if you burned a piece of toast, every sprinkler would go o, soaking all of your
belongings, even though there never was any real danger of fire. Fortunately, the clever engineers who developed these systems designed them
to reduce the damage to your property from water, smoke and fire.
Fire sprinkler systems have been around for more than two centuries and have seen significant improvements over the years. It's true that early
versions weren't very reliable and caused significant water damage. But today, sprinkler systems are credited with reducing deaths and loss of
property by more than 65 percent [source: Fleming]. Since each sprinkler head is automatically triggered by fire-specific temperature, just one or
two sprinklers can quickly extinguish and/or contain a fire to the room where it started and cause little property damage. And because sprinklers
use about six times less water than a fire hose, they're actually less harmful to your property than a visit from the fire department.
Still convinced you know everything you need to know about fire sprinklers? We'll address another common myth and discuss the details of how
sprinklers work on the next page.
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HowFireSprinklerSystemsWork|HowStuffWorks
When a fire starts, the resulting smoke will eventually set o a smoke detector alerting residents to danger. This process can be quite slow
depending on where the smoke detector is located. Meanwhile, the fire is growing. Alerting residents to the presence of fire is important. But, so
is putting the fire out. When a fire starts, it quickly heats the air directly above it. This air rises and is pushed out to either side when it hits the
ceiling. As this hot air reaches a sprinkler head, that sprinkler head is activated.
Not just any heat source will trigger a sprinkler system to activate. The sprinkler heads must detect a high enough temperature -- usually
between 135 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit (57 to 74 Celsius). Most sprinkler heads are equipped with a glass trigger filled with a glycerin-based
liquid that expands at the appropriate temperature, breaking the glass and activating the sprinkler head. The sprinkler head is attached to a
system of pipes that are hidden behind the walls or ceiling. These pipes wind through the building and outside to connect with a reliable water
source. When the sprinkler head is triggered, a valve to the pipe system is opened, releasing the water that is kept under pressure from the pipes.
The water is quickly pushed out of the pipes through the sprinkler head, spraying water downward and out to the sides. This carefully designed
spray of water extinguishes the fire below and prevents it from spreading.
Fire sprinkler systems have revolutionized fire safety by automatically putting out fires in the room of origin and preventing fires from spreading
or re-igniting. The amount of time this process requires depends on the type of fire sprinkler system. We'll learn more about the dierent types of
fire sprinkler systems on the next few pages.
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In deluge systems, like the pre-action system, water enters the pipes when triggered by a heat or smoke detector, separate from the sprinkler
heads. There may also be a manual function, where pushing a button or pulling a cord activates the system. The sprinkler heads in a deluge
system are open, meaning they don't have a trigger function and are activated simultaneously. Deluge systems are usually installed in chemical
plants or other areas where the spread of fire would be exceptionally hazardous.
The widespread use of fire sprinkler systems and the resulting innovations are no doubt a result of laws, regulations and building codes that
require their installation. We'll explore existing codes and the possible need for home regulations on the next few pages.
According to the American Fire Sprinkler Association, a home fire occurs every 79 seconds. A 2009 National Fire Protection Association study
reports that 3,000 deaths a year can be attributed to fires in homes [source: Figueroa]. Given these startling statistics and what we've already
learned about the life- and property-saving characteristics of fire sprinkler system installation, it's hard to believe that less than 2 percent of
homes in the United States have fire sprinkler systems [source: Hall]. So why are homeowners hesitant to install a system that could save their
lives and property?
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HowFireSprinklerSystemsWork|HowStuffWorks
While aesthetics shouldn't outweigh life safety, one reason many single-family homeowners don't want to install sprinkler systems is that they
believe sprinkler heads are an eye sore. Fortunately, new designs for residential systems are actually quite undetectable, and many can be
installed flush to the ceiling. Flush sprinkler heads are hidden behind a metal panel that hides the sprinkler head, but still allows it to spray
normally.
And residential sprinklers are smaller than commercial ones and require less water. They're typically dry pipe systems, providing added
protection against potential water damage that could occur during home improvements or other home accidents. Additionally, since the
development of residential systems is a newer concept, their designs include many new innovations (like improved sensitivity), making them
faster than commercial sprinklers.
Perhaps the most common myth about home sprinkler systems is that they're expensive. Not only is the installation of a home fire sprinkler
system aordable, it can drastically decrease your home owner's insurance premium. Considering installation costs, reduced insurance rates
and potential property destruction costs, a 2007 National Institute of Standards and Technology found the addition of a home sprinkler system
could produce up to $4,800 in savings. Home systems will only continue to become more cost-eective as they become more common. Don't be
surprised if you're required to install sprinkler systems in your home at some point in the future.
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Sources
USFA. "Residential Sprinkler Myths and Facts." April 15, 2009. (March 7,
2010)http://www.snohomishfire.org/Community%20Information/Residentail%20Fire%20Sprinklers/Basic%20Information/Myths%2
0and%20Facts%20FEMA.pdf
Fleming, Russell. "The Fire Sprinkler Situation in the United States." National Fire Sprinkler Association. 2002. (March 15,
2010)www.sprinklerworld.org/vds.doc
Rollins Fire Sprinklers, Inc. "Learn About Fire Sprinklers." (March 15, 2010)http://www.rollinsfire.com/learn.html
Faith, Nicholas. "How Fire Sprinklers Work." The Providence Journal. (March 15,
2010)http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/stationfire/pdf/sprinkler.pdf
Fleming, Russell. "Anniversary Time: Recalling three big years in the development of automatic sprinklers." NFPA Journal.
November/December 2009. (March 15, 2010)http://www.nfpa.org/publicColumn.asp?
categoryID=1920&itemID=45069&src=NFPAJournal&cookie%5Ftest=1
Rodgers, Harlold. "Patent Application Publication." USPTO. September 20, 2007. (March 7,
2010)http://www.google.com/patents?id=lKeBAAAAEBAJ&printsec=description&zoom=4#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Fire Protection Group. "Fire Protection Systems." (March 15, 2010)http://www.apifiregroup.com/index.php
NFPA. "Residential Fire Sprinkler Information Kit." (March 7, 2010).http://docs.google.com/viewer?
a=v&q=cache:II0GNdavoA4J:www.firesprinkler.org/downloads/AFSA8060.pdf+fire+sprinkler+stats&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShD2Ldb_sWCeg3oGBhdeAU_xuT6jPHjHeOs77539boosZt9Z8evjlP
eTeLBKjnOyGuNt-d9T5NZvKjlQUVudUkZK0l2QtRh8DrhVexbza2Fk-DJAYQLws_dcDd2nuhtX93C1UUV&sig=AHIEtbRtbge58UqgGoUM3wyY8o6wMmHGg
NFPA. "U.S. Experience with Sprinklers." February 2010. (March 7,
2010)http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Sprinkler_Fact_Sheet.pdf
NFPA. "The deadliest fires and explosions in U.S. history by property class." February 2010. (Dec.,
2002)http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Research/Wineco.pdf
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