It's easy to take fire sprinklers and fire protection systems for granted, but these devices are complex and amazing pieces of engineering which are far too often misunderstood and potentially misused, to the detriment of those operating near them.

One of the most common and potentially problematic misconceptions people have is the belief that smoke sets off fire sprinkler systems.

Smoke Does Not Trigger Fire Sprinklers

The simple fact of the matter is: smoke will not set off a fire sprinkler system.

The purpose of fire sprinklers is to save property and life from an actual, full-burning fire. It is not an early warning system, such as a smoke detector. Also, as a side note, smoke detectors simply warn you of smoke and cannot actually extinguish the source of smoke -- another common misconception.

What Does Trigger Fire Sprinklers?

Fire sprinkler systems are actually quite sophisticated, and are designed to be heat sensitive so that sprinklers only activate when the temperatures rise to fire-induced temps, usually somewhere between 155 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sprinkler heads can be activated individually -- if one is triggered, it will not automatically set off the entire building's system of sprinkler heads.

This is important, as it prevents massive and unnecessary water damage. It ensures that only the necessary sprinkler heads that are in the immediate vicinity of the fire are activated. Often, only one or two sprinklers are needed to successfully contain and extinguish most fires.

How Are Your Fire Sprinklers?

If you own or manage a property requiring fire sprinklers and smoke detectors, it is vital that you ensure everything is in working order.

Just because you have a sprinkler system, doesn't mean you can let your smoke detectors slide. 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 Frontier Fire a call today. With nearly 60 years experience in fire protection and a mission for excellence, our team can provide the inspections, maintenance, repairs and systems you need to keep your property and people safe.

Contact Frontier Fire online today to request a quote!