So you think you know fire sprinklers huh?

This quick, 5 question fire sprinkler quiz will test your knowledge on codes, as well as industry terms.  I will give you the questions first, and then in the next section,  I will give you the answers as well as an explanation as to why that’s the answer.

Good luck!

Welcome to Our Fire Sprinkler Quiz!

Please write your answers down on a separate sheet of paper so you can check your answers at the end of the post.

#1 – Which is NOT a type of fire sprinkler system?

a) Pre-Action
b) Even-Distribution
c) Dry Pipe
d) Wet Pipe
e) Deluge

#2 – Buildings more than ___ feet high must have an automatic sprinkler system throughout the building.

a) 25
b) 35
c) 45
d) 55
e) 65

#3 – You must have an automatic fire sprinkler system if…

a) it’s a new building with a fire area exceeding 5000 sq. ft.
b) it’s an old building being remodeling or renovated
c) it’s a single tenant expansion requiring a new certificate of occupancy that increases the fire area beyond 12,000 sq. ft.
d) all of the above

#4 – True or False?

Smoke can cause a fire sprinkler to be activated?

#5 – True or False?

In most cases, a commercial building that catches fire will set off every fire sprinkler in a building at the same time?

Answers and Explanations

#1 – Which is NOT a type of fire sprinkler system?

The correct answer is b, Even-Distribution.

The truth is…even-distribution is something we made up based upon the myth that all fire sprinklers trigger at the same time. Although each fire sprinkler does protrude the same amount of water (or other agent), once a fire happens, only fire sprinklers where the fire is occurring are activated, hence a non-even distribution.

#2 – Buildings more than ___ feet high must have an automatic sprinkler system throughout the building.

The correct answer is d, 55 feet.

According to NFPA 13: Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems, buildings more than 55 feet in height must have automatic sprinkler systems throughout the building.

#3 – You must have an automatic fire sprinkler system if…

The correct answer is d, all of the above.

Here is a summary of another section of NFPA 13: Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems, that states that:

“Automatic fire sprinkler systems must be installed in all newly built commercial buildings with a fire area that exceeds 5,000 square feet, after any remodeling or renovation that extends the fire area beyond 5,000 square feet, or any single tenant expansion requiring a new certificate of occupancy that increases the fire area beyond 12,000 square feet. Fire sprinkler systems must be installed throughout the building and must be designed to provide the maximum amount of coverage.”

#4 – True or False – Smoke can cause a fire sprinkler to be activated?

The correct answer is False.

Fire sprinklers are activated by heat, not smoke.

#5 – True or False – In most cases, a commercial building that catches fire will set off every fire sprinkler in a building at the same time?

The correct answer is False.

Fire sprinklers are activated one at a time, and most fires only require one or two sprinklers to be extinguished.

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the fire sprinkler quiz! We hope you did great, but most importantly, we hope you learned at least one new fact about fire sprinklers.

Thanks for your participation and have a great day!