When a blaze ignites the air directly above it heats rapidly.
Sprinkler system working principle.
Each sprinkler is nothing but a faucet or tap as they call it in some countries a hole in the pipe through which water can escape into the building below.
When the air is hot enough and reaches a sprinkler head it triggers a chain reaction.
Note the red liquid alcohol in the glass bulb.
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection method consisting of a water supply system providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system onto which fire sprinklers are connected.
This hot air rises and spreads along the ceiling.
Sprinkler heads operate individually.
The cap valve are held tightly against the orifice by a system of levers and links or other releasing devices pressing down on the cap and anchored firmly by struts on the sprinkler.
The installation is pressurised with the alarm valve secured in the open position.
The sprinkler heads must detect a high enough temperature usually between 135 and 165 degrees fahrenheit 57 to 74 celsius.
Fire sprinklers work because high heat triggers the sprinkler system.
A sprinkler system is a network of pipes running through the ceiling of a building holding water under pressure.