Fire Sprinkler Myths
Fire sprinkler systems are a great line of defense against fires. In fact, the preservation of a property and all of its belongings will often depend on the proper functioning of an alarm and sprinkler system. That is why it is so surprising that the average consumer doesn’t have an accurate understanding of how a fire sprinkler system installation works. To remedy that, here are the two biggest fire sprinkler myths that are still circulating, which have been debunked with accurate facts.
Myth: Sprinkler Systems Put Out Fires
Many people think that a sprinkler system’s one and only function is to put out fires. In fact, these systems are designed to suppress fires by reducing the heat release rate. Cooling down a fire will prevent it from spreading. The degree to which the sprinkler controls a fire depends on what is burning, the size of the space, and whether or not the blaze is protected from the flow of water. It’s possible for sprinkler systems to extinguish small fires. Larger fires that feed on plastic that burn quickly and at high temperatures will not always be fully extinguished. Typically, an effective sprinkler system not only suppresses the fire until the fire department arrives and completes the job with the aid of external equipment.
Myth: Pulling the Fire Alarm Turns on the Sprinkler System
Pulling the fire alarm does not always automatically turn on the sprinkler system. In reality, this only occurs when a fire sprinkler system is designed to include this feature, which is extremely rare. So, if the fire alarm fails to turn the sprinklers on, what does? Sprinkler heads are contained within a thermal element that will melt or break at certain temperatures. So if the heat of the fire is intense enough to turn on the thermal element, the sprinklers are activated and water is discharged.
If you would like to make an appointment with a professional fire sprinkler system installation, please contact Felix Fire Protection, LLC at (480) 291-9128 now if you live in the Mesa, AZ region.