Fire Sprinklers (Risers)

I’m sure we have all seen in movies, and television shows that holding a lighter somewhat close to, or directly near the sprinkler head. Then the entire building’s sprinkler system starts to shower everyone and everything in water. (Watch Constantine for a specific reference of this myth)

Fire sprinklers are essentially pressurized water pipes that hold water in the event that one of the sprinkler head’s activation devices are broken. These are small pieces of glass, designed to melt and break at a specific temperature. That is why holding a lighter close enough to it, would indeed activate the sprinkler, but the distance required for such a small flame is smaller than most movies portray. The other thing shown is that the entire building starts to release water, or that somehow, inexplicably the amount of water is only an inch or so.

Depending on the way the riser is set up, only the one activated sprinkler head will spit out water. Sometimes, they would be set up to have a cascade of activation within the hallway, or room for example. The amount of water held within these pipes are also determined by the size of the building, and what it is zoned or used for. It is usually pressurized to a specific PSI to ensure the ability to push the required amount of water to even the top floor of the building. This PSI varies according to the size of the pipes, the size of the building, etc.

One thing that is usually overlooked in mostly older buildings, or restaurants is the escutcheon ring, or concealment plate. They are used when a sprinkler head penetrates past a drop ceiling, or fire ceiling. A drop ceiling is required to be continuous in order to block the feeding of air into a location past where the sprinkler system is effective. That way a fire won’t be fed oxygen if it is above the sprinkler system, and get around being put out. The amount of wiring, lighting fixtures, and other potential causes of fire make it an extremely risky thing not to replace.

Monthly inspections (this is not the same as the required quarterly maintenance/inspections) done by fire and life safety companies can help with the liability of a leak, or the possibility of a leak causing water damage, and even with the tampering of a life safety device. You can contact a fire and life safety company in your area to determine the cost associated, or ask your servicing sprinkler company if they offer that service. (We provide it for the area around us)

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