A fire sprinkler system is a network of fixed water pipes fed by two water sources with sprinkler heads installed at recommended distances. Water can be supplied from a reservoir via pumps or from the city’s water supply network, provided there is sufficient flow to fill the pipes.

The detector heads are a series of nozzles that direct a jet of water onto a deflector plate that diffuses over a large area. The water is retained by a glass bulb or soldered strut that holds a lid in place. In the event of a fire, the heat from below bursts the glass bulb largely due to the expansion of the liquid within it, or the solder melts, which then releases the plug and allows water to flow through the sprinkler head.

Hot gases from a fire will raise the temperature of the ceiling, and when the area adjacent to the head reaches a specific temperature, that sprinkler head will activate and spray water onto the fire. Only the sprinklers directly above the fire open; the others will remain shut. This limits damage to areas where there is no fire and reduces the amount of water needed.

Sprinkler heads can be installed in enclosed ceiling spaces and within floor ducts to protect areas where a fire can start undetected. In a large storage facility, the sprinklers can be installed in the storage shelves as well as on the roof.

A valve is located at the point where water enters the sprinkler system. It can be used to shut down the system for maintenance purposes. For safety reasons, it is kept open under lock and key and only authorised personnel should be allowed to close it.