Solutions Graded A+
Myth or Fact - Answer: Point #1
"Water damage from a sprinkler system will be more extensive than fire damage ?"
Water damage from a sprinkler system
x 15-30 GPM
Water damage from fire-fighting hose
x 50-250 GPM
Smoke & heat damage is less extensive with sprinklers
... - Answer: Point #2
"When a fire occurs, every sprinkler head goes off ?"
Sprinkler heads are individually activated by fire
Fires in offices and schools are usually controlled with one sprinkler head
90% of all fires are controlled with six or fewer heads
... - Answer: Point #3
"Sprinklers are designed to protect property, but are not effective for life safety ?"
There has never been any multiple loss of life in a fully sprinklered building
Property losses are 85% less with sprinklers compared to those without sprinklers
Residential sprinklers are designed for Life Safety & not necessarily to protect property
... - Answer: Point #4
Sprinkler heads have been known to fail ?
Chances are 1 in 16,000,000
What about vandalism?
Sprinklers can be protected
, Guards for heads
Concealed or recessed types
... - Answer: Point #5
Sprinklers are ugly ?
Sprinklers now come in a variety of finishes and colors
In certain applications, sprinkler heads even have a concealed model where the sprinklers are not
visible until they activate
The Great Toronto Fire - Answer: April 19, 1904
30 mph NW winds and 24 F
Started @ 8:00 pm at 58 Wellington St.
Destroyed 100 buildings in 9 hours
Involved over 250 F.F.'s from as far away as Hamilton, Peterborough, London, Buffalo
... - Answer: The Great Toronto Fire (Kilgour Bros. Building)
2 gravity flow tanks supplied water to sprinklers throughout the building (This saved the building and
provided the first break in preventing the fire from reaching Yonge St) Sprinkler systems were originally
designed in the late 1800's
Sprinkler Systems - Answer: Proper Name:
"Automatic" Sprinkler Systems
Sprinkler Heads - Answer: Typically 1 - 3 Sprinkler heads are enough to control the fire.
Head Activation - Answer: Sprinkler systems may not be totally effective in slow burning fires that
produce fatal quantities of smoke but generate insufficient heat to activate the system
Activation - Answer: 1.Fusible Link