As the leading independent distributor of fire protection systems, Ferguson Fire & Fabrication provides fire protection professionals unmatched access to products from leading manufacturers, including Reliable Automatic Sprinkler, Tyco®, and Victaulic®.
Learn more about choosing the right fire sprinkler heads for your project and order today from our comprehensive inventory.
Types of fire sprinkler heads
There are four main sprinkler head types—pendent, concealed, upright, and sidewall—with variations and different features among all of them.
• Pendent fire sprinkler heads are what we see descending from ceilings.
• Concealed sprinkler heads can be installed in ceilings or walls and come with a cover plate that falls away in the event of a fire.
• Upright fire sprinklers are usually installed on a visible pipe when there are obstructions in the ceiling, and they have deflectors to redirect the spray.
• Sidewall sprinkler heads can be horizontal or vertical and are often installed in hallways or closets where ceiling sprinklers aren’t practical. These also have a deflector to redirect spray.
There are also categories of standard and quick response fire sprinkler heads, but these can be complex when it comes to UL or FM approval, extended coverage, and sprinkler placement. The basic details to know are that all sprinkler heads have thermal sensitivity, which is classified by their response time index, or RTI. This measures how long it takes for them to activate when the system detects rising temperatures. Standard response sprinkler heads have an RTI equal to or greater than 80. Quick or fast response fire sprinkler heads must have an RTI equal to or less than 50.
Finally, the traditional and most common fire sprinkler system is wet pipe, which discharges water when sprinkler heads activate. A dry pipe system uses air or nitrogen and requires specific dry fire sprinkler heads.
Temperature classifications
Temperature ratings refer to the temperature at which the sprinkler head will activate. Manufacturer specifications will list this temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius, but in the U.S., they’re often referred to as just the numeral with “F” and no degree symbol: e.g., 155F sprinkler heads.
Ordinary to intermediate temperature ratings, between 135F and 225F, will meet many building requirements. High to ultra-high ratings may be required when facilities regularly experience extreme heat up to 650F, such as chemical plants, foundries, or industrial processes.
Sometimes trade professionals use the term “maximum temperature” as shorthand, but be careful not to confuse temperature rating with maximum ceiling temperature, which is how hot a room or space can get at its height. The sprinkler head temperature rating must be higher than the maximum ceiling temperature. For example, a 135F fire sprinkler head would be appropriate for a room with a max ceiling temp of 100°F.
K-factor
Fire sprinkler heads with the correct K-factor are critical to fire sprinkler and engineering design. K-factor is calculated based on required flow in gallons per minute, or gpm, and required water pressure in pounds per square inch, or PSI, and ensures coverage that meets fire code. In the quickest terms, the lower the K-factor, the less water discharges from the sprinkler head, and a higher K-factor allows greater water discharge.
K-factor is most frequently represented as the numeral and then “K”—for example, 4.9K—but when etched on the sprinkler head itself, it may have the letter first. When installing sprinkler heads, follow the specifications exactly, and try to use the Sprinkler Identification Number, or SIN, to order replacements when needed.
Our inventory features a range of K-factors, from as low as 3 to as high as 25.2, with hundreds of the most common 5.6K fire sprinkler heads in different types and temperature ratings.
Color and finish
Adding your own paint or coatings to fire sprinkler heads can cause them to malfunction in the event of a fire and is against code, but they come in a range of materials and finishes to fit your project. Select classic chrome, different types of brass and bronze, white or signal white, or other colors.
With a strategic network of distribution centers, 24/7 online ordering, and same-day or next-day delivery on thousands of items, Ferguson is your single point of contact for fire protection products and services. Register for your free ferguson.com account to take advantage of exclusive website offers.