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A typical sprinkler system operates when heat at the site of a fire causes a
glass component in the sprinkler head to fail, thereby releasing the water
from the sprinkler head.
This means that only the
sprinkler head at the fire location operate - not all the sprinklers on a
floor or in a building. (This is a common misconception which stems from
action movie scenes). Sprinkler systems help to reduce the growth of a fire,
thereby increasing life safety and limiting structural damage.
The fire is detected either by locating the
smoke, flame or heat, and an alarm is sounded to enable emergency
evacuation as well as to dispatch the local fire department. An
introduction to fire detection and suppression can be found here. Where a
detection system is activated, it can be programmed to carry out other
actions. These include de-energising magnetic hold open devices on Fire
doors and opening servo-actuated vents in stairways.
All AFP systems are required to be installed
and maintained in accordance with strict guidelines in order to maintain
compliance with the local building code and the fire code.
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