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Fire sprinkler
A fire sprinkler or sprinkler head is the component of a fire
sprinkler system that discharges water when the effects of a fire
have been detected, such as when a predetermined temperature
has been exceeded. Fire sprinklers are extensively used
worldwide, with over 40 million sprinkler heads fitted each year.
In buildings protected by properly designed and maintained fire
sprinklers, over 99% of fires were controlled by fire sprinklers
alone.[1][2][3]

A fire sprinkler mounted on a ceiling

Contents
History
US regula ons
Quick Response Sprinklers

Opera on
Types
ESFR
Quick response

See also
References
External links

History
In 1812, British inventor Sir William Congreve patented a manual sprinkler system using perforated pipes along the
ceiling. When someone noticed a fire, a valve outside the building could be opened to send water through the pipes.[4] It
was not until a short time later that, as a result of a large furniture factory that repeatedly burned down, Hiram Stevens
Maxim was consulted on how to prevent a recurrence and invented the first automatic fire sprinkler. It would douse the
areas that were on fire and report the fire to the fire station. Maxim was unable to sell the idea elsewhere, though when the
patent expired, the idea was used.[5][6]

Henry S. Parmalee of New Haven, Connecticut created and installed the first automatic fire sprinkler system in 1874,
using solder that melted in a fire to unplug holes in the otherwise sealed water pipes. He was the president of Mathusek
Piano Works, and invented his sprinkler system in response to exorbitantly high insurance rates. Parmalee patented his
idea and had great success with it in the U.S., calling his invention the "automatic fire extinguisher".[7] He then traveled to
Europe to demonstrate his method to stop a building fire before total destruction.

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Parmalee's invention did not get as much attention as he had planned, as most people could not afford to install a
sprinkler system. Once he realized this, he turned his efforts to educating insurance companies about his system. He
explained that the sprinkler system would reduce the loss ratio, and thus save money for the insurance companies. He
knew that he could never succeed in obtaining contracts from the business owners to install his system unless he could
ensure for them a reasonable return in the form of reduced premiums.

In this connection, he was able to enlist the interest of two men, who both had connections in the insurance industry. The
first of was Major Hesketh, a cotton spinner in a large business in Bolton who was also Chairman of the Bolton Cotton
Trades Mutual Insurance Company. The Directors of this Company and its Secretary, Peter Kevan, took an interest in
Parmalee’s early experiments. Hesketh got Parmalee his first order for sprinkler installations in the cotton spinning mills
of John Stones & Company, at Astley Bridge, Bolton. This was followed soon afterwards by an order from the Alexandra
Mills, owned by John Butler of the same town.

Although Parmalee got two sales through its efforts, the Bolton Cotton Trades Mutual
Insurance Company was not a very big company outside of its local area. Parmalee
needed a wider influence. He found this influence in James North Lane, the Manager of
the Mutual Fire Insurance Corporation of Manchester. This company was founded in
1870 by the Textile Manufacturers' Associations of Lancashire and Yorkshire as a
protest against high insurance rates. They had a policy of encouraging risk
management and more particularly the use of the most up-to-date and scientific
apparatus for extinguishing fires. Even though he put tremendous effort and time into
educating the masses on his sprinkler system, by 1883 only about 10 factories were
protected by the Parmalee sprinkler.

Back in the U.S., Frederick Grinnell, who was manufacturing the Parmalee sprinkler,
designed the more effective Grinnell sprinkler. He increased sensitivity by removing the
fusible joint from all contact with the water, and, by seating a valve in the center of a
flexible diaphragm, he relieved the low-fusing soldered joint of the strain of water
pressure. By this means, the valve seat was forced against the valve by the water
An 1897 Grinnell automa c
pressure, producing a self-closing action. The greater the water pressure, the tighter the
sprinkler adver sement
valve. The flexible diaphragm had a further and more important function. It caused the
valve and its seat to move outwards simultaneously until the solder joint was
completely severed. Grinnell got a patent for his version of the sprinkler system. He also took his invention to Europe,
where it was a much bigger success than the Parmalee version. Eventually, the Parmalee system was withdrawn, opening
the path for Grinnell and his invention.[8]

US regulations
Fire sprinkler application and installation guidelines, and overall fire sprinkler system design guidelines are provided by
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, (NFPA) 13D, and (NFPA) 13R.

California, Pennsylvania and Illinois require sprinklers in at least some new residential construction.[9]

It is worth mentioning that (NFPA) 13, 13 D and 13R may subject to additional standards or modifications in New York
City. Where it is before each approval for any residential building for occupancy should be comply with standards of NYC
building code, New York City Fire Code, (NFPA) 13, (NFPA) 13D, and (NFPA) 13R[10].

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Fire sprinklers can be automatic or open orifice. Automatic fire sprinklers operate at a predetermined temperature,
utilizing a fusible element, a portion of which melts, or a frangible glass bulb containing liquid which breaks, allowing the
plug in the orifice to be pushed out of the orifice by the water pressure in the fire sprinkler piping, resulting in water flow
from the orifice. The water stream impacts a deflector, which produces a specific spray pattern designed in support of the
goals of the sprinkler type (i.e., control or suppression). Modern sprinkler heads are designed to direct spray downwards.
Spray nozzles are available to provide spray in various directions and patterns. The majority of automatic fire sprinklers
operate individually in a fire. Contrary to motion picture representation, the entire sprinkler system does not activate,
unless the system is a special deluge type.

Open orifice sprinklers are only used in water spray systems or deluge sprinklers systems. They are identical to the
automatic sprinkler on which they are based, with the heat-sensitive operating element removed.

Automatic fire sprinklers utilizing frangible bulbs follow a standardized color-coding convention indicating their operating
temperature. Activation temperatures correspond to the type of hazard against which the sprinkler system protects.
Residential occupancies are provided with a special type of fast response sprinkler with the unique goal of life safety.

Quick Response Sprinklers

The NFPA #13 standard was revised in 1996 to require Quick Response Sprinklers in all buildings with light hazard
occupancy classification.

The 2002 edition of the NFPA #13 standard, section 3.6.1 defines quick response sprinklers as having a response time
index (RTI) of 50 (meters-seconds)1/2 or less. The term quick response refers to the listing of the entire sprinkler
(including spacing, density and location) not just the fast responding releasing element. Many standard response
sprinklers, such as extended coverage ordinary hazard (ECOH) sprinklers, have fast responding (low thermal mass
elements) in order to pass their fire tests. Quick response sprinklers are available with standard spray deflectors, but they
are also available with extended coverage deflectors.[11]

QUICK RESPONSE FIRE SPRINKLERS

Quick Response per NFPA 13 RTI < Nominal Diameter Norbulb Opera ng Time in Response Time Index (RTI)
50 (ms)1/2 in mm Model[12] Seconds (ms)1/2

Yes 2.5 N2.5 9 25

Yes 3 N3 11.5 33

Yes 3.3 N3.3 13.5 38

No 5 NF5 23 65

No 5 N5 32 90

Operation
Each closed-head sprinkler is held closed by either a heat-sensitive glass bulb (see below) or a two-part metal link held
together with a fusible alloy such as Wood's metal[13] and other alloys with similar compositions.[14] The glass bulb or link
applies pressure to a pipe cap which acts as a plug which prevents water from flowing until the ambient temperature
around the sprinkler reaches the design activation temperature of the individual sprinkler. Because each sprinkler
activates independently when the predetermined heat level is reached, the number of sprinklers that operate is limited to
only those near the fire, thereby maximizing the available water pressure over the point of fire origin.

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The bulb breaks as a result of the thermal expansion of the liquid inside the
bulb.[15] The time it takes before a bulb breaks is dependent on the
temperature. Below the design temperature, it does not break, and above the
design temperature, it breaks, taking less time to break as temperature
increases above the design threshold. The response time is expressed as a
response time index (RTI), which typically has values between 35 and
250 m½s½, where a low value indicates a fast response.[16] Under standard
testing procedures (135 °C air at a velocity of 2.5 m/s), a 68 °C sprinkler bulb
will break within 7 to 33 seconds, depending on the RTI.[17] The RTI can also
be specified in imperial units, where 1 ft½s½ is equivalent to 0.55 m½s½. The
sensitivity of a sprinkler can be negatively affected if the thermal element has
been painted.

Color Code
Maximum
Temperature Temperature (with Liquid Alcohol in
Ceiling
Ra ng Classifica on Fusible Glass Bulb Color
Temperature
Link)

Orange (135 °F / Standard spray sprinkler head with a

135-170 °F / Uncolored blue bulb indica ng a high release
100 °F / 38 °C Ordinary 57 °C) or Red
57-77 °C or Black
(155 °F / 68 °C) temperature

Yellow (175 °F /
175-225 °F /
150 °F / 66 °C Intermediate White 79 °C) or Green
79-107 °C
(200 °F / 93 °C)

225 °F / 250-300 °F /
High Blue Blue
107 °C 121-149 °C

300 °F / 325-375 °F /
Extra High Red Purple
149 °C 163-191 °C

375 °F / 400-475 °F / Very Extra

Green Black
191 °C 204-246 °C High

475 °F / 500-575 °F /
Ultra High Orange Black The liquid in the glass bulb is color
246 °C 260-302 °C
coded to its show temperature ra ng.
625 °F / 650 °F /
Ultra High Orange Black
329 °C 343 °C

From Table 6.2.5.1 NFPA13 2007 Edition indicates the maximum ceiling temperature, nominal operating temperature of
the sprinkler, color of the bulb or link and the temperature classification.

Types
There are several types of sprinklers:[18]

Quick response
Standard response
CMSA (control mode specific applica on)
Residen al
ESFR (early suppression fast response)

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ESFR
ESFR (early suppression fast response) refers to both a concept and a type of sprinkler. "The concept is that fast response
of sprinklers can produce an advantage in a fire if the response is accompanied by an effective discharge density — that is,
a sprinkler spray capable of fighting its way down through the fire plume in sufficient quantities to suppress the burning
fuel package."[19] The sprinkler that was developed for this concept was created for use in high rack storage.

ESFR sprinkler heads were developed in the 1980s to take advantage of the latest fast-response fire sprinkler technology
to provide fire suppression of specific high-challenge fire hazards. Prior to the introduction of these sprinklers, protection
systems were designed to control fires until the arrival of the fire department.

Quick response
Quick response fire sprinkler heads are commonly found in populated buildings, they direct the water up towards the
ceiling thus cooling it in order to prevent fire from rising.[20]

See also
Ac ve fire protec on
Automa c fire suppression
Building code
Fire Safety Evalua on System
Hydraulic calcula on
Piping
Tyco Interna onal
Victaulic

References
1. "Domes c and Residen al Fire Sprinkler Informa on" (h ps://web.archive.org/web/20140325130620/h p://www.cdl-sprinkler.
co.uk/sprinkler.html). Archived from the original (h p://www.cdl-sprinkler.co.uk/sprinkler.html) on 25 March 2014. Retrieved
25 March 2014.
2. "Fire Sprinklers" (h p://www.h2ofiresprinklers.co.uk/fire_sprinklers). Fire Sprinklers Scotland. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
3. "Industrial Fire sprinklers" (h p://www.firesafe.org.uk/industrial-fire-sprinklers/). Fire Safety Advice Centre. Retrieved
6 February 2013.
4. Dana 1919, p. 12
5. Chinn, George M. (1951), The Machine Gun, I, Bureau of Ordinance, page 127.
6. US 141-72 (h ps://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US141-72), Maxim, Hiram S., "Improvement in Fire
Ex nguishers", issued July 22, 1873
7. Dana 1919, pp. 16–21
8. Dana, Gorham (1919), Automa c Sprinkler Protec on (h ps://books.google.com/books?id=y5xBAAAAIAAJ) (second ed.), John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.
9. Wotapka, Dawn (December 22, 2010). "Builders Smokin' Mad Over New Sprinkler Rules" (h ps://blogs.wsj.com/developments/
2010/12/22/builders-smokin-mad-over-new-sprinkler-rules/). The Wall Street Journal.
10. "Residen al Fire Sprinkler in NYC" (h ps://www.ny-engineers.com/blog/residen al-sprinkler-systems-in-new-york-city). ny-
engineers.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
11. Asplund, David L. (July 9, 2007). "The Evolu on of Modern Automa c Fire Sprinklers" (h p://classes.sdc.wsu.edu/classes/arch43
3/specs/evolu on%20of%20fire%20sprinklers.PDF) (PDF). Retrieved November 24, 2015.

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12. "Glass Bulb RTI" (h p://www.norbulb.de/glass_bulb_quality/r .htm). norbulb.de.

13. metal Wood's metal (h p://dic onary.reference.com/browse/woods) defini on at Dic onary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved
May 17, 2008
14. Low Mel ng Point Bismuth Based Alloys (h p://www.alchemycas ngs.com/lead-products/fusible.htm) Archived (h ps://web.ar
chive.org/web/20121012062715/h p://www.alchemycas ngs.com/lead-products/fusible.htm) October 12, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine.. Alchemy Cas ngs product informa on.
15. Sprinkler bulb specifica ons (h p://www.day-impex.co.uk/sprinkler.aspx) Archived (h ps://web.archive.org/web/20100828114
754/h p://www.day-impex.co.uk/sprinkler.aspx) 2010-08-28 at the Wayback Machine., Day Impex Ltd.
16. SFPE (NZ) Technical Paper 95 – 3: Sprinkler response me indices (h p://www.civil.canterbury.ac.nz/sfpe/technical_papers/TP3.
shtml) Archived (h ps://web.archive.org/web/20080929184401/h p://www.civil.canterbury.ac.nz/sfpe/technical_papers/TP3.s
html) 2008-09-29 at the Wayback Machine.. Society of Fire Protec on Engineers, New Zealand Chapter.
17. "JOB Thermo Bulbs Product Range" (h p://www.job-bulbs.com/en/products/technical-data.html). job-bulbs.com.
18. Multer, Thomas L. (1 September 2009). "Sprinkler Protec on of Storage Facili es Goes Green" (h p://www.pmengineer.com/Ar
cles/Feature_Ar cle/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000663428). BNP Media. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
19. 20th Edi on NFPA Fire Protec on Handbook Volume II
20. "The Difference Between Standard And Quick Response Fire Sprinkler Heads" (h ps://www.fireline.com/blog/difference-standar
d-quick-response-fire-sprinkler-heads/). Fireline. 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2017-10-22.

External links
h ps://archive.is/20140605201415/h p://magazine.sfpe.org/sprinklers/whys-behind-fm-global-data-sheets-2-0-and-8-9 The
Whys Behind FM Global Data Sheets 2-0 and 8-9
h ps://archive.is/20140612174945/h p://magazine.sfpe.org/sprinklers/historical-perspec ve-evolu on-storage-sprinkler-
design A Historical Perspec ve on the Evolu on of Storage Sprinkler Design

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