Frequently Asked Questions
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Why are sprinklers important for life safety?
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How can we be sure sprinklers will work in a fire?
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What about water damage?
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What about smoke?
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What is the life safety record for sprinklers?
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Aren’t sprinklers unsightly?
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Don’t all the heads go off at once? I’m sure I’ve seen this happening on tv!
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Surely sprinklers create more water damage than the fire and rescue service?
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If sprinklers false alarm, won’t they create a lot of damage?
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How do sprinkler heads work?
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I want to install sprinklers in a new building but I have been advised that the water supply from the local mains is inadequate. Can I still install a sprinkler system?
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What standards do I need to comply with when designing or installing sprinkler systems?
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Does the installation of sprinklers permit ‘tradeoffs’ in respect of requirements regarding escape routes and passive fire protection measures?
Don’t all the heads go off at once? I’m sure I’ve seen this happening on tv!
No, each sprinkler head is effectively a self-contained heat detector and will only operate when the predetermined temperature at which it is manufactured to operate at is reached. This is normally 68°C (for glass bulb type) or 72°C (for solder type), so only the heads in the immediate vicinity of a fire will operate. This is also why sprinklers do not ‘false alarm’ - unlike smoke detectors, they will not operate if you burn the toast or let steam from your shower escape from the bathroom. Operating a keyswitch or lever cannot turn on closed type sprinkler heads. The depictions of sprinkler systems on tv and in films is invariably wrong!