6 Common Misconceptions of Commercial Fire Sprinklers

Misconceptions of Commercial Fire Sprinklers

Commercial Fire sprinklers were first introduced in 1874 and for nearly 150 years, they have saved countless lives and prevented billions of dollars in damage. The basic technology has been refined, but the basics remain the same; early application of water, applied directly at a fire source, prevents a fire from spreading. Several false impressions might lead to the conclusion that fire sprinklers are more trouble than they are worth. Take a look at these common myths about Commercial Fire Sprinklers.

  1. Smoke Alarms Are Enough.

Smoke alarms and fire sprinklers serve two very different purposes. Smoke alarms alert people to the presence of smoke. This allows them to move to safety. Fire alarms suppress fires at the source.

  1. The Fire Department is Quicker.

Local fire departments train very hard to reduce their response time; National Fire Protection Association guideline goals are under 6 minutes.1 That is an incredible goal and we applaud all of the training and equipment necessary to accomplish this. However, fire sprinklers commonly activate within 90 seconds of ignition; hopefully, the fire is extinguished before the fire department arrives.

  1. If One Goes Off, They All Go Off.

Movies and television use this myth for dramatic or comedic storytelling and it makes for a great effect. But that is not how Commercial Fire Sprinklers work. Each sprinkler head houses a glass “plug,” filled with a liquid and a bubble of air. The heat from an intense fire causes the air and liquid to expand, breaking the glass plug. Water is released, hitting the sprinkler head and dispersing over an approximately 6’ circle. Sprinkler heads work independently, so only a heat/fire source near a sprinkler head will unleash the water from that sprinkler head.

Minor flame sources, such as tobacco use, burning incense, or a candle, will not set off the sprinkler system unless these sources ignite a larger, more intense fire.

  1. Commercial Fire Sprinklers Create Massive Water Damage.

When a sprinkler head activates, it releases 10 to 26 gallons per minute (GPM) directly onto the source of ignition. Once the fire has been extinguished, the sprinkler system can be deactivated to stop the flow of water. Extinguishing the flame quickly cools the fire before it can gain heat/intensity and limits damage due to fire.

If a fire gains intensity and the fire department apply water from a fire hose, the hose will release 300 to 800 GPM. All of that is needed to quench an intense flame, but a fire sprinkler has the chance to be effective with far less water/water damage.

  1. Commercial Fire Sprinkler Heads Leaks.

Actually, building and fire codes require a Commercial Fire Sprinkler system to be inspected and tested regularly, including a visual inspection of each head. A building’s water supply does not receive this much attention; it should not be surprising that the water supply is more prone to leaks than the sprinkler system.

Since the sprinkler “plug” is made of glass, a moving object making contact with the sprinkler head can damage the plug and activate the sprinkler. However, a well-maintained system is not likely to leak.

  1. Commercial Fire Sprinklers Freeze in the Winter.

Normal fire sprinklers are installed in conditioned or climate-controlled spaces. The temperatures in ceiling spaces above dropped ceilings do not fall below freezing. Spaces that do fall below freezing, such as warehouses, require a specialized sprinkler system to prevent burst pipes.

If a power outage drops the building temperature below 320 F, both the water supply and the sprinkler system will be subject to the laws of physics. Emergency measures, such as cutting the water supply to the building and reducing the water pressure in the lines, will need to be enacted to prevent water damage.

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1 https://fems.dc.gov/page/fire-response-time#:~:text=FIRE%20First%20Fire%20Engine.&text=NFPA%20Standard%201710%20establishes%20an,29%20for%20a%20detailed%20description