Citation

Fleming RP. Fire Safety J. 1988; 14(1-2): 75-88.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The addition of high thermal sensitivity to various types of fire sprinklers has created confusion within the fire protection community in the United States. The proper applications and limitations of these sprinklers are not well understood.This paper separately addresses five current tyoes of fast response sprinklers, distinguished by their product approval requirements: - [plus sign in union] Listed residential sprinklers- [plus sign in union] Listed quick response sprinklers- [plus sign in union] 'Fast response' extended coverage sprinklers- [plus sign in union] ESFR (Early Suppression Fast Response) sprinklers- [plus sign in union] 'Quick response high challenge' large drop sprinklersThe historical development of each of these types of sprinklers is reviewed, and it is shown how the product approval requirements for the sprinklers have led to various degrees of recogniton within national installation standards.The paper also discusses current research efforts intended to increase proper applications of the fast response sprinkler technology, and provides a summary of present and future needs.