Nevertheless, they can still trigger a smoke detector. This is because smoke alarms detect airborne particles of any kind. In the case of ionization smoke detectors, the alarm triggers when particles disrupt the flow of electricity.
Optical smoke alarms activate when particles scatter an infrared light beam. For this reason, even excessive dust or shower steam can set off a fire alarm. Having said that, vaping is still unlikely to set off the fire alarm. If you love the smell of scented candles or incense sticks, you may be concerned about the potential for setting off the smoke detector. Of course, there are instances where these products produce enough smoke to cause a problem. Non-smoking college dorm rooms also tend to have hyper-sensitive smoke alarms, which could be triggered by burning incense or blowing out a candle.
This one is a definite yes. To prevent this, never leave food cooking unattended. Also, run the kitchen exhaust fan to draw smoke and fumes to the exterior. If the fire alarm starts blaring, open a window and aim a fan at the smoke detector until it stops. The only exception to this statement is if you hold a lighter or candle flame directly up to a sprinkler head.
After all, contrary to popular belief, sprinkler heads are not set off by smoke—or vapor, for that matter. Instead, they are triggered by heat. Others may be more or less sensitive. When temperatures rise to the designated limit, the liquid inside the bulb will expand and shatter the bulb, triggering the mechanism that will activate the water sprinkler head. So, only fire-related temperatures can trigger fire sprinklers, and furthermore, only the sprinkler heads that are in the immediate area of the fire.
This makes fire sprinkler systems highly efficient and ensures that only the area with the fire will be doused with the water necessary to suppress and extinguish the fire.
If you own or manage a property requiring fire sprinklers and smoke detectors , it is vital that you ensure everything is in working order. Smoke detectors can provide the early warning that allows actions to prevent a fire in the first place. Not sure if your building is sufficiently protected? Give the experts at Koorsen a call today. With over 70 years in fire protection and a mission for excellence, they can provide the inspections, maintenance, repairs and systems you need to keep your property and people safe.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only. As this hot air reaches a sprinkler head, that sprinkler head is activated. Not just any heat source will trigger a sprinkler system to activate. The sprinkler heads must detect a high enough temperature -- usually between and degrees Fahrenheit 57 to 74 Celsius.
Most sprinkler heads are equipped with a glass trigger filled with a glycerin-based liquid that expands at the appropriate temperature, breaking the glass and activating the sprinkler head. The sprinkler head is attached to a system of pipes that are hidden behind the walls or ceiling. These pipes wind through the building and outside to connect with a reliable water source. When the sprinkler head is triggered, a valve to the pipe system is opened, releasing the water that is kept under pressure from the pipes.
The water is quickly pushed out of the pipes through the sprinkler head, spraying water downward and out to the sides. This carefully designed spray of water extinguishes the fire below and prevents it from spreading. Fire sprinkler systems have revolutionized fire safety by automatically putting out fires in the room of origin and preventing fires from spreading or re-igniting. The amount of time this process requires depends on the type of fire sprinkler system. We'll learn more about the different types of fire sprinkler systems on the next few pages.
Because fire sprinkler systems protect a variety of buildings and property, many different types have been developed over the years. These include wet, dry, deluge, pre-action and foam. Each has its own unique set of characteristics that protect the specific building and property for which it was installed.
As we learned on the previous page, sprinkler heads are connected to a system of pipes in the walls or ceiling of a room. These pipes are composed of steel, copper or fire-resistant plastic. The most commonly used system in commercial buildings is a wet pipe system , which is composed of steel pipes that are always filled with water hence, the term "wet". The water in the pipes is under a moderate amount of pressure.
When the sprinkler head is activated, the pressurized water in the pipes is immediately released, providing a faster reaction time than any other type of system.
The wet pipe system is also the simplest and most reliable, boasting cost savings for easy installation and low maintenance. However, wet pipe systems are not always the best choice. Since the pipes are always filled with water, they're not recommended for locations where the pipes might freeze or in residential environments where accidental leaks could be detrimental. As you might have guessed, in a dry pipe system , the pipes are not filled with water -- they're actually filled with compressed air.
When the sprinkler head is activated, a valve releases the compressed air through the sprinkler head. Once all of the air is released, the pressure in the pipe changes, allowing water to fill the system. Dry pipe systems have a slower reaction time up to a minute delay. To make up for this, dry pipe systems release a larger amount of extremely pressurized water, which requires larger pipes and a larger budget.
And, while a leaky pipe in a dry pipe system doesn't pose a flooding threat, maintenance to the system is more complicated and costly. So, this type of system isn't recommended unless specific conditions -- an unheated warehouse in Canada, for example -- exist. Read on to learn about the different types of dry pipe systems available. Even if your warehouse, office building or apartment is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, be sure you have operating smoke detectors, as well.
And have at least one on every floor. Just remember to change the batteries at least twice a year. Pre-action and deluge systems are variations of the dry pipe system. Pre-action systems must be triggered twice before water is dispensed from the sprinkler head. The first trigger -- usually a smoke detector or a heat detector that is separate from the sprinkler head -- allows water into the pipes. Once this trigger occurs, the system acts like a wet pipe system.
The second trigger, the individual sprinkler heads, releases the water, pushing it through the sprinkler head to extinguish the fire. This type of system provides added protection against false sprinkler head activation.
If a sprinkler head is falsely triggered, an alarm will sound, but no water will be released, since the pipes remain dry until the second trigger has been activated. Although sprinkler heads are not likely to accidentally activate -- sprinkler heads have a one in 16 million false activation rate -- pre-action systems are very popular when dealing with sensitive property like in a museum or library [source: USFA ].
In deluge systems, like the pre-action system, water enters the pipes when triggered by a heat or smoke detector, separate from the sprinkler heads. There may also be a manual function, where pushing a button or pulling a cord activates the system. The sprinkler heads in a deluge system are open, meaning they don't have a trigger function and are activated simultaneously. Deluge systems are usually installed in chemical plants or other areas where the spread of fire would be exceptionally hazardous.
The widespread use of fire sprinkler systems and the resulting innovations are no doubt a result of laws, regulations and building codes that require their installation. We'll explore existing codes and the possible need for home regulations on the next few pages. Fire sprinkler systems have been in use for more than years. This is no doubt a result of codes and regulations, requiring the use of these systems in public buildings.
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