Have you ever wondered how easy it is to set off a fire sprinkler? Well, the answer may surprise you.
Recent statistics suggest that up to 73% of sprinklers are triggered unintentionally due to improper maintenance or accidental damage, and in most cases, temperatures as high as 155°F–165°F must be reached in order to set off a sprinkler system.
But surprisingly, only specific types of fire sprinklers can be triggered by heat alone – those triggered by a combination of heat and smoke generally require much higher temperatures or pressure in their respective pipes before they can be activated.
Let’s take a look at what it takes to set off a fire sprinkler.
How Heat Activated Fire Sprinklers Work
Heat activated fire sprinklers work similarly to smoke-activated systems. The main difference is that heat-activated systems have special thermally sensitive elements that react when the temperature reaches the activation threshold (155°F–165°F).
This causes the system’s pressure gauge to drop below its operating range and triggers the system’s alarm and activating valves. Once this happens, water is released from the pipes into the room where the fire has started, helping contain or even extinguish it.
What Materials Can Set Off a Fire Sprinkler?
The materials that can set off these types of systems are those that are able to generate enough heat (or pressure) to reach these activation thresholds.
Common examples include matches, lighters, cigarettes, candles, fireworks, and other forms of combustible material such as paper or wood chips.
Anything that generates enough heat or pressure can potentially trigger a fire sprinkler system – so it’s important to keep these materials away from your fire protection equipment at all times!
How To Prevent Accidental Activation Of A Fire Sprinkler System
Fortunately for us, there are ways we can prevent accidental activation of our fire sprinkler systems. These include
- regular maintenance checks by professionals who are trained in detecting potential problems with our systems;
- ensuring all combustible materials like lighters and matches are kept away from our fire protection equipment;
- installing proper signage around our buildings alerting people to any potential dangers related to our systems; and
- always having an emergency response plan ready in case something does go wrong with our systems.
All of these steps are necessary if we want to ensure that our buildings remain safe from fires and other accidents related to our fire protection equipment.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, setting off a fire sprinkler isn’t as hard as one may think – but it certainly isn’t something anyone should take lightly either!
By following some simple precautions such as regular maintenance checks by professionals and ensuring all combustible materials like lighters and matches are kept away from your fire protection equipment you can greatly reduce your chances of an accidental activation or worse yet – an emergency situation caused by your own negligence!
Keeping yourself informed on how your particular system works is essential for protecting both yourself and others around you – so make sure you do your research today!
I’m Carlos Robert, a passionate gardener, and blogger. With years of experience and knowledge in the field of garden watering, I have created a blog to share my insights and tips on the topic. I strive to provide readers with detailed information about all aspects of sprinkler systems, from garden sprinklers to fire sprinklers, along with nozzles, hoses, and other related products. I love helping my readers create the perfect garden with their ideal setup!