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#61 - Fire Sprinkler Head Types: Blog Home

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Pendents, Uprights, Sidewalls, and Fire Protection
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Posted by Jason Hugo, Courtney Montanye and Anna Hartenbach on 12/29/2016 to Fire Emergency Exit
Sprinkler System Components Signs and Lights

Fire Extinguishers

If you're considering installing fire sprinklers in a new building or need to replace existing Valves
sprinklers, it is very important to understand the different fire sprinkler types. The form and Pipe Hangers
shape, as well as the use and purpose, differs among sprinkler head types. Sprinkler heads
are available in four primary Fasteners
Sign Uptypes including pendent,
for the upright,
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Once you've selected a type, additional options become available including temperature, Fire Sprinkler Cover
finish, and response type. While we will address the options throughout this article, it is Plates
important to know that each type of fire sprinkler meets a different need so therefore getting
NIST Certification
the right sprinkler is paramount. But don't worry, by the time you finish this article you'll
know exactly which type you need! Gauges

Fire Sprinkler
If you already know the type of fire sprinkler you need, QRFS offers a full selection of
Escutcheons
Tyco, Victaulic, and Senju fire sprinklers.
Fire Department
How do fire sprinkler heads work?
Connection
Functionally, the way fire sprinkler heads work is fairly simple: the glass bulb is filled with Thread Standards
a glycerin-based liquid which expands to break the bulb at a specified temperature. Once
Thread Size
that happens, the flow of water held back by the bulb flows out towards the deflector which
disperses it on to the fire. Advantages of QRFS

While there are numerous options when it comes to a fire sprinkler head, they all perform Fire Hose
the same basic function: containing and extinguishing fires. Additionally, nearly all fire How a Fire Sprinkler
sprinklers are composed of the same components: a sealing assembly or ‘plug’, a Works
temperature-sensitive glass bulb, a deflector, and a frame.
Fire Extinguisher
Common wet fire sprinklers are available in two primary sizes: 1/2" and 3/4". A 1/2" Cabinets
sprinkler is the most common for office buildings, hotels, and schools. 3/4", on the other
Fire Inspections
hand, are larger and used when extended coverage is necessary. For the purpose of this
article, we're only going to highlight 1/2" sprinklers but most manufacturers also offer 3/4" Fire Sprinkler
variants, too. Call us or browse QRFS.com to see your options. Business Marketing

Fire Sprinkler
Fire sprinklers are offered in various finishes, as well. Each manufacturer offers different Regulatory
options but most common are chrome, white, and brass.
Fire Sprinkler
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 #118 – How to
Replace an Obsolete
Fire Sprinkler Head
or Component

#117 – What Facility

Managers Need to
Inspect on a Fire
Sprinkler System,
Part 3

#116 - What
Temperature Fire
Sprinkler Cover Plate
Do I Need?

#115 - Can PEX Be

Used in a Dry or
Preaction Fire
Figure 1: Fire Sprinkler Head Components
Sprinkler System?

Sprinkler bulb temperature ratings #114 - Which Size

Fire Sprinkler
The temperature rating determines the ceiling temperature at which the sprinkler will Escutcheon Do I
activate. Options range from 135 to 360 degrees Fahrenheit, which is easily recognizable by Need? Half-Inch vs.
the bulb color. Three-Quarter

#113 - What Facility

See the bulb in Figure 1? The diagram on the right side shows bulb colors with their Managers Need to
corresponding temperatures. When selecting a fire sprinkler head, this is an important Inspect on a Fire
consideration you definitely do not want to gloss over! Sprinkler System,
Part 2

#112 - A Guide to
Fire Department
Connection (FDC)
Sizes and Threading

#111 - What Facility

Managers Need to
Inspect on a Fire
Sprinkler System,
Part 1

#110 - Replacing a
Fire Department
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Standard vs. Quick Response #109 - CPVC vs.
PEX: What’s the Best
Finally, there's the option of standard response or quick response, which determine reaction Choice for Home
speed and, more importantly, the sprinkler's mission. Fire Sprinkler
Systems?
The main physical difference between standard response and quick response fire sprinklers
Archives
is the size of the bulb. Quick response sprinklers have a smaller bulb, leading to a slightly
July 2018
faster response time. If you want to learn more about the response types and their specific
objectives, check out this blog. June 2018

May 2018
What is a fire sprinkler K-Factor?
April 2018
A fire sprinkler K-Factor is the designation assigned to a fire sprinkler head based upon its March 2018
discharge rate from the nozzle.
February 2018
A fire sprinkler head with a higher K factor has the ability to discharge more water at a January 2018
given pressure. The most common K factors for fire sprinklers are 5.6k for one-half inch
December 2017
and 8.0K for three-quarter inch sprinklers.
November 2017
So with this quick background out of the way, let's move on to exploring the four primary
October 2017
types of fire sprinklers: pendent, upright, sidewall, and concealed.
September 2017
Pendent Sprinkler Head August 2017

July 2017
The most common type of fire sprinkler head is the pendent. A pendent fire sprinkler
protrudes and hangs down from the ceiling, like a pendant necklace but spelled differently. June 2017

May 2017
Pendent fire sprinklers commonly require an escutcheon to cover the cutout in the drywall
or drop ceiling surrounding it. Once water is expelled onto a pendent fire sprinkler's December 2016
deflector, it sprays in a circular pattern providing the most coverage of any fire sprinkler. November 2016
The deflector is curved downward, which helps to direct the water out into a cone pattern.
Commercial pendent fire sprinklers are bet used in offices, hotels, factories, etc. August 2016

July 2016

June 2016

May 2016

April 2016

March 2016

February 2016

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 January 2014

December 2013

November 2013

October 2013

September 2013

July 2013

June 2013

May 2013

April 2013

March 2013

February 2013

January 2013

Upright Sprinkler Head

Upright fire sprinklers stand upright...imagine that! An upright sprinkler sprays water
upwards and the deflector, which is curved, deflects the water back down to produce a
hemispherical spray pattern.

Don't they look like upside down pendent sprinklers?

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Upright fire sprinklers are suited for areas that are difficult to access, like around beams,
ducts, and other ceiling obstructions, or in ceilings without a finish (eg., no drop ceiling or
drywall). These sprinklers are commonly found in buildings with exposed ceilings, like
many chic restaurants or mechanical rooms. It may be useful to think of an upright fire
sprinkler like an upside down pendent fire sprinkler, only with a concave deflector.

Sidewall Sprinkler

It's probably easy to figure out where a sidewall fire sprinkler is meant to be installed. They
protrude through the wall and basically only have half of a deflector, which sprays water in
a half circle or crescent shape.

They're designed to protect small rooms, hallways, and other areas where sprinkler pipes
are running up walls but not in the ceiling. You've probably seen one in a hotel room, where
they are most commonly found. They are designed to be installed on the wall, instead of in
the ceiling, along or under a beam. However, sidewall sprinklers perform the same basic
functions as other fire sprinklers.

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Concealed Sprinkler Head

Concealed fire sprinklers are somewhat like pendent fire sprinklers; however, they're
located within the ceiling and they're hidden by a cover plate. Once the cover plate is
installed, you can't see the concealed fire sprinkler at all. The cover plate will fall off at a
temperature about 20 degrees lower than the fire sprinkler, allowing the deflector of the
concealed sprinkler to drop and be exposed to the heat from the fire.

While the finish of the cover plate might concern you more than the finish of the concealed
fire sprinkler itself, these fire sprinklers are available in brass and are available in quick
response and standard response. The cover plates are available in white, chrome, and black,
with special colors available upon request. Word to the wise: whatever you do, do not paint
fire sprinkler cover plates.

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So now that we've reviewed the primary fire sprinkler types it is important to point out that
these are far from the only types and options available. Over the years, fire sprinkler
manufacturers like Tyco have developed many specialty sprinkler heads for very specific
applications. Extended Coverage Light Hazard (ECLH), Extra Large Orifice (XLO),
vertical sidewalls, and even mist systems are all different types of fire sprinklers. However,
those are a topic for another day.

Fire Sprinkler Types

In conclusion, there are four primary types of basic fire sprinklers: pendent, upright,
sidewall, and concealed. They are all available in a variety of temperatures, finishes, and
size.

There is no "best" fire sprinkler, there is only the right fire sprinkler for your specific
application. That is why, when considering adding fire sprinklers to a new building, it is
critical that you hire a licensed fire sprinkler designer to make sure the sprinkler type,
location, and temperature meet the room size requirements necessary to effectively protect
the room.

If you're considering replacing fire sprinklers, note that the system must be drained in
advance.

So now that you are an expert in the four most common fire sprinkler types, click the link
below to explore QRFS' selection of commercial and residential fire sprinklers. We stock
the four types from Tyco, Victaulic, and Senju Sprinkler. We pride ourselves on outstanding
customer service, so if you have questions or concerns just give us a call at 888-361-6662.
Otherwise, click the link, order your sprinklers, and we'll deliver them to you promptly!

BROWSE ALL COMMERCIAL FIRE SPRINKLER

HEADS
This blog was originally posted by Jason Hugo and Courtney Montanye at QRFS.com/blog
on December 29, 2016 and updated by Anna Hartenbach on July 30, 2017. If this article
helped you find the right fire sprinkler head type to meet your needs, let others know on
Facebook.com/QuickResponseFireSupply or on Twitter @QuickResponseFS.

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