By Young Lindsay


Automatic sprinklers are a part fire extinguishing systems. Usually part of a fire protection system based on a water reservoir for the supply system and a network of pipes which are terminal elements. They usually are activated by detecting the effects of a fire since the temperature rise associated with fire, or smoke is generated by combustion (fire sprinkler hydraulic calculations).

Automatic sprinklers have an outlet for releasing water, a firing mechanism and a deflector to convert the output stream in a spray of water in area where there is fire. The trigger sprayer can be done by two mechanisms: a thermo-sensitive element or a flame detector. In this type of sprayer, the jet has a stopper that prevents the leakage of water and a stopper device releasing the trigger mechanism in this case is a device for releasing the plug.

There are other automatic, instead of the capsule are connected to a fire detector which sends an automatic valve that opens when the detector knows of a fire. When quenched, the switch closes the valve and, if applicable, would open again if the fire is revived. Systems differ from sprinklers sprayed water on the element that disperses the water these last is a mouthpiece designed to offer an angle of fog.

Fuse trip. The plug is held in position by a mechanism formed by two metal plates joined with a weld, with a melting point of carefully calibrated. In a blaze, the heat generated softens the solder, causing the water pressure acting on the cap and then disarm the system to skip the plug, allowing the escape of liquid. The water goes through the hole and strikes against a sheet, designed to distribute the jet way to rain (deflector). Each spray has its own fuse, so that only those sprinklers that are in zone of influence of trigger.

Sprinkler is a component of fire-fighting system, irrigation head mounted in sprinkler installation (network of water pipes, which is always water or air under pressure). The spray outlet closed heat or thermo-sensitive bulb lock having a temperature of up to 343 degrees C. Upon reaching room temperature a certain value, locking the system soldered or bursts flask, and water begins to irrigate the protected zone. The disadvantage of such a system is relatively large inertia - head opened after about 2-3 minutes after the temperature rise.

These processes may take more or less depending on rate of release of surrounding heat to spray, the distance between the sprinkler and ceiling, the distance between the spray and the floor, the roof slope and other factors that have been extensively studied by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), UL (Underwriters Laboratories), FM (Factory Mutual), among other research and development in flame protection systems.

Another way to activate a sprinkler is associated with flame detector which opens the closed spray, which in this case is a solenoid valve (solenoid valve) when a flame occurs in area protected by the sprinkler. The advantage of this system is that, once the blaze is out, the water outlet is cut and, if reignite, reopens. With the system of sensitive element, it would take someone off the water supply or water damage could exceed those caused by the inferno.

First installation started in late XIX century, after the Englishman Stuart Harrison in 1864, has developed a sprinklers. Further development of sprinkler systems associated with the names of Americans Henry Parmelee and Frederick Grinnell. By 1882 in the United States for 200 enterprises was established about 200 thousand. Sprinkler-design Parmelee. During the same year in England the first such installation was witnessed.




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