I know that individual sprinklers have heat-sensitive bits in them, but if one sprinkler is set off does that trigger all the other ones in the building, or is it just that one that goes off? On TV it usually looks like they all go off, but it seems like it would make more sense for them not to. So what really happens?
2006-12-11 14:53:12 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
It's interesting that you noticed that on TV. It's one of my pet peeves.
TV and Movies rarely display how automatic fire systems actually work. It doesn't matter if it's sprinklers, gas systems, or whatever.
TV and movies show that if the fire alarm is pulled the sprinkler heads go off too!
In truth, it is very rare to have a system where every head goes at the same time. This is called a deluge sprinkler system and is used in only but the smallest of applications. Schools, health care facilities, most public buildings, and homes are generally equipped with what is called a "wet system." Water is released only through those heads which "fuse". This is generally accomplished by the melting of a link on the head or a glycerin filled glass bulb that breaks at a fixed temperature.
Most wet systems are designed with the main riser set to support a small percentage of of total number of heads actually open. If all the heads were open on these systems, most would never get any water because the pipes just aren't big enough to support that much water flow, even with fire pumps running.
Good question.
For the record... the Movie Aliens got it right on the sprinklers! One of the only ones I know of that was actually accurate... at that was science fiction. Sad.
2006-12-12 05:13:08 · answer #1 · answered by todvango 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
This depends
On older systems Pending They all do go off in a certain area Like maybe just 1 room and thats it.
But throught out the yrs they have changed alot.
For the most part and the most systems used now they are independent from one another.
They do not need fire too go off or even smoke to turn them on
Each 1 has a sensor and they range in heat so 1 might be for 180Deg and if the room hits 180 it goes off
Some might be 220 and so on
The reason for the different kinds are sometimes you might put them in a room with a heater or HWT and the room might be hotter then normal so you put the correct 1 in.
If your ever in a commerical building look at the units and you will see what I mean.
Also they go off when each 1 is tripped this way it only will use water for that 1 only.
and it will keep the water damage to only 1 area not the whole building.
So if you have a 5story building and 1 room is on fire on each floor only 5 rooms will spray water and will also help fire fighters to know where the fires are.
There are different systems out there But this is what is used mostly
2006-12-11 18:55:19 · answer #2 · answered by Kos 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
the only one that goes off is the one that the fire is under usually,these heads have a glass or metal element that contains solder,set to melt and open when heated to a set temp,movies always show them all going off,this don't happened in real life..
2006-12-11 14:59:26 · answer #3 · answered by J.B.1972 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
How the sprinkler systems operate depend entirely how they are connected.
I have seen many "versions" of NEW fire-prevention systems installed in buildings, each with a differing setup.
%As I recall, one system did turn on only in specific parts of the building when *smoke* was detected. - BY SOME FREAK "HAPPENSTANCE", this system opened the sprinklers on THE WRONG FLOOR in the building! Much to the investigating authorities and insurance adjustors confusion, it was determined that the system had "significant installation errors."
None-the-less, the installing co. was cited for this error.
2006-12-11 15:08:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋
It depends upon the type of system you have installed. A wet pipe system has fusible plugs that set off the individual nozzles when they get hot enough to melt. If you have a dry pipe system that is activated by a valve, all the sprinklers in that zone will activate.
2006-12-11 14:59:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
I'd say todvango has it right.
TV and movies are always doing dumb stuff for dramatic effect and it's rarely reality!
2006-12-12 05:22:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the system, if its a smoke heat detector then all go off. If its a wax heat melt type then only the ones that have melted go off.
2006-12-11 14:57:06 · answer #7 · answered by graeme1944 5 · 0⤊ 7⤋
depends on the system,
2006-12-11 15:01:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
yes they do...i mean if one sprinkler can already detect enough smoke its definetly going to be a BIG fire right...just to be on the safe side...
2006-12-11 14:56:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 8⤋
yes, it activates adn trigers the other ones
2006-12-11 14:55:53 · answer #10 · answered by jeff 3 · 0⤊ 8⤋