The reason I ask is cause I have a fire sprinker that's like right above my bed, and I sleep on the top bunk, so it's actually really close, and I'm always worried I'll hit it or something and it will go off. Is that a rational thing to worry about?
2006-06-07
16:15:37
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8 answers
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asked by
Anonymous
in
Home & Garden
➔ Other - Home & Garden
I've heard people sometimes make them go off when they're throwing a ball inside and it hits the sprinkler, which is why I thought they might go off when you hit them.
2006-06-07
16:20:59 ·
update #1
On a somewhat related note... does anyone know about how hot it would have to be for that glass to break?
2006-06-07
16:22:33 ·
update #2
It looks like you have a lot of good answers to the first part of your question. I agree, if you hit it hard enough and just right, you could dislodge the link or break the glass (depending on the type you have) and it could set it off.
A sprinkler guard could offer some protection. See the link below. There pretty cheap and you can get them at most any fire protection company.
As far as the temperature, you are probably looking at a 155 Degree F. head, those are the most common. If you look at it close enough, it should have the temperature written on it.
The color of the glass (if it's a glass head) actually can help indicate the temperature range. Orange or red is ordinary use and probably has a low end trip point around 135 degrees F. These heads should not be used where ceiling temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees F. If the glass is yellow or green, then the low end of the trip point is around 175. This type is good for ceiling temperature up to 150 degrees. Again, these colors are for the GLASS ONLY, these colors mean other things if its not the glass. (Ref. NFPA 13, Table 6.2.5.1 Temperature Ratings, Classifications, and Color Codings)
Hope this helps.
2006-06-09 09:14:08
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answer #1
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answered by todvango 6
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fire sprinklers are activated when the temperature of the room gets to hot. a glass bulb in the sprinkler contains a glycerin solution which expands when heated. when the temperature is to hot the solution expands so much that it shatters the glass bulb and water sprays out of the sprinkler.
generally it is hard to set a fire sprinkler off by impacting it as the glass bulb is protected from most impacts by the metal structure on the tip of the valve. also some sprinker valves replace the glass bulb with a solder link that melts away when the temperature gets to hot, this sort of sprinkler is not effected by impact. --in answer to your question about what temperature glass breaks, it is not the temperature of the room that breaks the glass, but the expansion of the solution pushing out against the glass.
2006-06-12 05:15:44
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answer #2
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answered by ssup 1
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How most fire sprinklers work is that there is a little glass on each sprinkler with a liquid inside. When a fire heats up the room, the liquid inside that little glass blub expands and breaks the glass. Thus the fire sprinklers activate.
So yes, if you hit a sprinkler with a ball or other object, and it breaks the little glass bulb...then the fire sprinklers cool things off.
2006-06-07 16:20:40
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answer #3
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answered by jaredkbyrd 3
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The answer is yes. Depending on the type. Two that I know of, the older systems used lead as catalyst heat would melt the lead activating the sprinkler. the other is the glass one as mentioned above. both work the same. A simple cage can be bought at any fire safety story
2006-06-07 16:41:33
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answer #4
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answered by brotherbox 1
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Fire Sprinkler Cage
2016-11-07 09:17:03
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answer #5
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answered by wilcoxson 4
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Get a wire cage to put around it. You could attach the cage to the ceiling and it would suround the sprinkler.
Yes hitting them just right can make them go off.
I think they sell cages for them, I see them in schools and where ceilings are low enough to reach.
2006-06-07 16:24:01
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answer #6
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answered by Dee 4
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no, as the name suggests, fire sprinklers only go off when there's a fire
2006-06-07 16:17:50
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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depends on what kind it is... it may have a glass tube within it that breaks when it reaches a certain temp... it you somehow manage to break that by knocking it, then yes... it would take skill though.
2006-06-07 16:21:10
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answer #8
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answered by pinky 4
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