What temperature do sprinkler heads turn on?
Each individual sprinkler head is triggered automatically when the air rising to the ceiling reaches a fire-specific temperature of 155 to 165 degrees. Often, only one or two sprinklers are required to fully extinguish a building fire. Click to see full answer. Furthermore, at what temperature do sprinkler heads activate?
What temperature do fire sprinklers discharge at?
Sprinklers located near heaters, skylights, and other areas of high heat can cause the fire sprinkler heads to discharge by accident. To prevent this, high-temperature-rated sprinklers are required. These activate at 200 to 300 degrees.
Is it possible for a sprinkler head to go off accidentally?
It’s true that early fire suppression sprinklers were unreliable and caused significant water damage when set off, but today’s sprinklers are more advanced. Still, accidental discharge is still possible. Aside from deliberate sabotage, consider the most common reasons sprinkler heads go off when they’re not intended to:
What causes a sprinkler to overheat?
Accidental Overheating. Sprinklers located near heaters, skylights, and other areas of high heat can cause the fire sprinkler heads to discharge by accident. To prevent this, high-temperature-rated sprinklers are required. These activate at 200 to 300 degrees.
A tiny glass bulb or fusible metal link protects most buildings from fire
Many people assume that fire sprinklers are set off by smoke and/or alarms, but intense heat is really the trigger in most systems.
How fire sprinklers are triggered
Nearly every sprinkler is kept closed by either a fusible metal link or a small glass bulb that contains a heat-sensitive liquid. In a typical sprinkler head, a pip cap (also known as a “plug”) is held in place by one of these two trigger mechanisms.
Temperature ratings prevent accidental discharges
Automatic sprinklers have different temperature ratings at which their fusible or glass bulb element is expected to break, enabling water to flow onto a fire. The temperature rating closely tracks rising ceiling temperatures, with options ranging from 135° F all the way up to 650° F (57° to 343° C).
How to determine the temperature rating of a fire sprinkler
In most cases, a sprinkler’s temperature rating is stamped on the fusible link or stamped or cast on a visible part of a glass bulb sprinkler’s head. NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems also calls for automatic sprinklers to use color codes to indicate temperature rating.
An important safety reminder for fire sprinkler triggers
Since fire sprinklers are activated by heat, smoke or dust in the air can’t accidentally set them off. But dust, dirt, or other materials like paint can insulate a fusible link or glass bulb and compromise its performance.
What temperature do fire sprinklers need to be?
To prevent this, high-temperature-rated sprinklers are required. These activate at 200 to 300 degrees. If new heat sources are added to an existing building, the sprinklers should consequently be adjusted.
What happens when a sprinkler system freezes?
If the pipes freeze, the expanding ice produces thousands of pounds of pressure, sometimes enough to break fittings and force valve caps open. When the system thaws, water may discharge from the sprinkler. As a preventative measure, ...
What happens when you put a sprinkler system in a harsh environment?
Corrosion. Very old sprinklers or systems installed in harsh environments are subject to corrosion, which weakens system parts and releases water. Regular inspection and testing can catch corrosion early and prevent unintentional discharge.
How many sprinklers are needed to extinguish a fire?
Often, only one or two sprinklers are required to fully extinguish a building fire. Since sprinklers use only about one-sixth of the water from a fire hose, they cause much less water damage to your property than a visit from the fire department would.
What is fire sprinkler monitoring?
Fire sprinkler monitoring and inspections from a fire protection technician can help insure your system is working as it should. With fire sprinkler monitoring and regular inspection, your panel will also alert us if there is a technical glitch or malfunction with your system—this wouldn’t constitute emergency response from the fire department, but our technicians will be able to repair your system as quickly as possible so that your building, employees, and assets are always protected.
Do sprinklers cause water damage?
Since sprinklers use only about one-sixth of the water from a fire hose, they cause much less water damage to your property than a visit from the fire department would. It’s true that early fire suppression sprinklers were unreliable and caused significant water damage when set off, but today’s sprinklers are more advanced.
Can a sprinkler system be damaged?
Forceful installation can damage a sprinkler’s operating mechanism, potentially causing the parts to come loose weeks or months later. To prevent this, a knowledgeable professional using the proper tools should perform the installation and regular inspection.
How hot does a fire sprinkler need to be before it goes off?
The links and bulbs are designed to trigger when the ambient air temperature goes above a set point, typically 155 degrees in most applications, before the fire sprinkler will operate. In my experience, it is very rare that more than one fire sprinkler will go off to either put out or control a fire. Each fire sprinkler is an individual heat ...
What is a closed head sprinkler system?
To be clear, 99.9% of sprinkler systems are what is called a ‘closed head’ system. This means that there is water in the pipe ready to put out a fire, but it is held back by a fusible link or a glass bulb. The links and bulbs are designed to trigger when the ambient air temperature goes above a set point, typically 155 degrees in most applications, before the fire sprinkler will operate. In my experience, it is very rare that more than one fire sprinkler will go off to either put out or control a fire. Each fire sprinkler is an individual heat detector. When the sprinkler head reaches the design temperature, only the fire sprinklers exposed to that increased temperature go off.
