Sprinkler Myths & Facts

Despite their proven effectiveness there are a number of popular myths about sprinklers. Read over the following myths and the facts that dispel them.

• Myth: When there is a fire all of the sprinklers go off together.
• Fact: Sprinkler heads go off independantly and only when directly affected by the heat of a fire.
• Myth: Water from sprinklers causes more damage than the fire.
• Fact: Because a sprinkler attacks the blaze directly and immediately when it is still small, it only needs to use a small amount of water to control the blaze. When operating a sprinkler head only uses about 60 litres per minute which is between 1% and 4%.
  Without sprinklers by the time the fire brigade arrives the fire will be much bigger and will require much more water to control it.
• Myth: A smoke detector / fire alarm will provide enough protection.
• Fact: Smoke detectors and fire alarms save lives but do not extinguish a growing fire or protect those unable to escape quickly such as the disabled, infirm, elderly or children.
  Smoke detectors are now installed in over 80% of UK homes, but although fire deaths have fallen by 24% in the past 10 years, injuries have increased by 62% to 18,600 in the same period.
  Smoke alarms on their own are patently not enough, especially for the vulnerable in our society.
• Myth: Sprinklers can go off accidentally.
• Fact: Tests over the past 10 years show that the chances of a defective head are approximately 16 million to 1, which is slightly longer odds than you winning the lottery. This figure includes all types of defect and therefore the actual chance of an accidental discharge is considerably less.
• Myth: Sprinklers are only designed to protect property, and are not effective for life safety.
• Fact: Statistics show that there has never been any multiple loss of life in a fully sprinklered building. Property losses average 85% less with sprinklers compared to those without. Clearly sprinklers provide a high level of life safety.
  The combination of automatic sprinklers and early warning systems in all buildings and residences could reduce overall injuries, loss of life and property damage by at least 80%.