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?
If sprinklers false alarm, won’t they create a lot of damage?
Sprinkler heads cannot false alarm. The only way they can operate is when the air around them reaches the predetermined temperature. They will not respond to smoke, dust or fumes from aerosol sprays. It is true however, that a few heads each year operate after vandalism or accidental damage, for example, struck by the masts of fork lift trucks. Consideration to such environmental factors is typically taken into consideration when sprinkler systems are being both designed and installed. Measures such as protective guards or the use of concealed sprinkler heads can be adopted.