Fire Sprinklers -How They Work

10/20/2020 (Permalink)

Fire sprinklers work when high heat triggers the system.  The air above a blaze heats rapidly and the hot air then rises and spreads along the ceiling. When the air is hot enough and reaches a sprinkler head, it sets things into motion. Most sprinkler heads have a glass bulb with a glycerin-based liquid which expands when it encounters air temperatures between 135 and 165 degrees. The expanded liquid causes the glass to shatter and activates the sprinkler head.

Sprinkler heads are attached to pipes, which are connected to an outside water source.  The heat activates the sprinkler head, opening a valve which then allows pressurized water from the pipes to flow out.  Pressurized water allows the water to spray outward to cover more area of the fire.

Fire sprinkler heads work individually which allows water damage to be confined to smaller areas than a fire department using a fire hose to put out the fire. So, fire sprinklers in your commercial business help minimize both the original fire damage and the water damage that occurs when putting the fire out!

If you experience a fire damage in your commercial business, give SERVPRO of Rockingham and Augusta Counties a call at 540-433-6100 to assist you.