The Beginner’s Guide to Commercial Fire Sprinkler Systems

There are many ways to protect your business from fires. One way to do so is with a commercial fire sprinkler system. This type of sprinkler system is specifically designed for commercial buildings and will help protect your property, employees, and customers. Although you don’t have to know everything about how your commercial fire sprinkler system works, you do need to know the basics.

Risks of Not Knowing the Basics of Your Sprinkler System

Commercial fire sprinkler systems can be complicated to understand. However, there are some basic points of information you should know about the sprinkler system in your business. If you don’t know about the general workings of your commercial fire sprinkler system, it may not do the job of putting out fires when necessary to do so.

How the Commercial Fire Sprinkler System Works

A fire sprinkler works in various ways, depending on the type of system it is. In general, when there’s a fire in your building, the sprinkler system will detect the heat and put the sprinklers into motion. The water, or other fire suppression material, will flow out of the sprinkler heads and work to extinguish the fire. The amount of sprinkler heads and placement will depend on your building structure and local and state regulations regarding this type of fire prevention system.

How to Maintain the Sprinkler System

In addition to having this type of fire protection system in place, you also need to maintain your commercial fire sprinkler system on a regular basis. Regulations in your location and area of industry will dictate how often you need to have your sprinkler system inspected and maintained. This maintenance is vital as your sprinkler system will only put out the fire if it works as it should.

Different Types of Fire Sprinkler Systems

There are a few different types of commercial fire sprinkler systems. Here are the main commercial sprinkler options:

  • Wet pipe system: A wet pipe system is the most common type of sprinkler system and uses water to put out the fire.
  • Dry pipe system: In cold climates and non-heated buildings, a dry pipe system is ideal as it uses air or gas, not water, to put the fire out.
  • Pre-action system: A pre-action system is a dry-pipe option where gas can be released after a series of events are put into motion to ensure certain equipment or precious items within the building aren’t damaged.
  • Deluge system: A deluge system is a sprinkler system used in buildings that have toxic or highly flammable materials for which a deluge of water is necessary to put out the flames.
Now that you know the basics of commercial fire sprinkler systems, make sure your sprinkler system is properly inspected and maintained.

Speak to a Total Fire Protection fire sprinkler expert today to have your sprinkler system inspected!