How does a sprinkler work?
The activation of a fire sprinkler head involves a precise sequence of events designed to respond to heat and effectively control or extinguish fires, here’s how it works:
- Bulb/Fusible link – Senses heat and triggers the activation mechanism.
- Deflector Plate – Directs the flow of water in a specific pattern.
- Cover plate – Initially conceals the sprinkler head.
2. Heat Sensing –The sprinkler head is designed to respond to heatgenerated by fire. It requires a certain temperature threshold to be breached to trigger activation, typically set to around 57°C for residential / Domestic systems.
3. Cover Plate Release – As the ambient temperature rises due to a nearby fire, the cover plate begins to heat up. Once the temperature reaches the activation threshold of around 57°C, the cover plate falls away, exposing the sprinkler head.
4. Activation Mechanism – Inside the sprinkler head there’s a heat sensitive element, either a bulb containing liquid, or a fusible link made of a heat sensitive alloy. When the temperature continues to rise past the initial 57°C, typically to around 68°C, the heat sensitive element reaches it’s activation point.
5. Water Release – At the activation temperature, the heat sensitive element ruptures, either by the expansion of the liquid in the bulb, or the melting of the fusible link, depending on the type of sprinkler head. This action allows water to flow through the sprinkler head and onto the fire below.
6. Fire Surpression – Once activated, the water is dispersed through the deflector plate in a specific pattern, designed to effectively control or suppress the fire.
7. Mechanical Heat Activation – Sprinkler heads for Residential and Domestic applications are designed to be mechanically heat activated only. This design minimizes the likelihood of false alarms, ensuring the sprinkler system responds reliably to actual fires.
By utilising these components and mechanisms, fire sprinkler heads provide an efficient and effective means of fire suppression, helping to protect lives and property in Residential and Domestic settings.
Considering a Fire Sprinkler System?
Safeguard Sprinkler Systems installs Fire Sprinkler Systems in both Domestic and Residential properties in London and surrounding areas, whether your project is a single-family dwelling or a block of private apartments we can install the appropriate system.
