What Causes a Fire Sprinkler To Activate?

As a business owner, keeping your employees, customers, and property safe is one of your top priorities. Fire sprinkler systems are essential, but you may have heard that they can activate accidentally, causing thousands of dollars in water damage. However, don’t let that stop you from equipping your business with this important safeguard. Whether you own a single commercial property or multiple buildings in Vermont, Northern New Hampshire, or Northeastern New York, understanding what causes a fire sprinkler to go off is key to preventing accidental activation.

Contact us today to learn how we can help protect your property with expert fire sprinkler services.

Common Causes of Fire Sprinkler Activation

Fire sprinklers are designed to activate automatically, saving lives and property by controlling a blaze before it spreads. However, accidental activations can also occur, often causing costly damage.

Accidental activation can be caused by:

• Excessive heat: While high temperatures activate sprinklers, sometimes non-fire-related heat sources like industrial equipment, lighting, or heating systems can accidentally trigger activation if placed too close to a sprinkler head.
• Freezing pipes: In colder regions like Vermont and New Hampshire, frozen pipes are a common issue. If water inside sprinkler pipes freezes, they can burst, leading to accidental sprinkler activation.
• Corrosion, dirt, and dust: Over time, the system’s pipes can corrode or build up excessive dirt and dust, leading to leaks, false alarms, or malfunctioning sprinklers.
• Human error: A simple mistake, like hitting a sprinkler head with a ball or tall equipment such as a forklift, can cause it to go off, quickly dumping hundreds of gallons of water.
• Incorrect installation: Installing a sprinkler system is a big job, and a lot can go wrong. If the installer uses the wrong type of sprinkler heads or installs a sprinkler system that is incompatible with the fire alarm system, this can cause accidental activation.
• Lack of maintenance: Like any complex system, fire sprinkler systems need regular maintenance. Failing to do so can cause you to miss issues that could have been caught and corrected, such as bad sprinkler heads, improper pressure, or a malfunctioning pump.

Misconceptions About Fire Sprinkler Activation

A common myth about fire sprinklers is that they are triggered by smoke. In reality, sprinklers respond to heat, not smoke, which means a small amount of smoke or fumes won’t set off the system. When the temperature in a specific area reaches a set point, usually between 155 degrees F and 200 degrees, the sprinkler head activates, releasing water to control the fire.

Many also believe that the entire system will go off once one sprinkler head is triggered. This is also incorrect. Each sprinkler head is activated individually by heat, limiting water damage to areas directly affected by the fire.

Preventing Unnecessary Activation

The best way to avoid accidental activation is through proper installation, regular maintenance, and smart system design. Here are some tips to help prevent accidental activation:

• Correct placement: Make sure all sprinklers are installed away from heat-producing equipment like ovens, furnaces, and lighting fixtures to avoid accidental activation from non-fire-related heat.
• Professional installation: Work with a certified installer to design your fire sprinkler system according to NFPA standards, minimizing the risk of accidental activation.
• Routine maintenance: Regular inspection, testing, and maintenance are key to preventing problems like corrosion, improper pressure, or bad sprinkler heads.
• Winterization: If your building is in cold climates like Vermont, Northern New Hampshire, or Northeast New York, take steps to prevent freezing pipes.

Why Choose Firetech?

Firetech Sprinkler Corp. has been serving Vermont, Northern New Hampshire, and Northeast New York since 1992. As a locally owned and operated full-service contractor, we offer everything from system design to installation, emergency fire sprinkler repair, and ongoing maintenance. Our certified technicians have the expertise to prevent accidental fire sprinkler activation and keep your system in top condition to protect your property at all times.

Get in touch with Firetech Sprinkler Corp. for fire sprinkler installation, maintenance, and repair across Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York.