smoking and sprinkler systems

[5abi]

i have b'n wondering would a ciggerete cause a sprinkler system 2 go off?

for ex. in a university lecture hall if one wuz 2 smoke owuld the detectors go off?

[schurchill39]

We have the sprinkler system at work and they dont go off when the boss smokes. But if the lecture hall is a "Smoke free facility" there could be a decent sized fine for smoking

[s dime]

if you look closely at 99% of sprinkler systems, they are temperature controlled not smoke controlled. so unless you were smoking your cigarette within an inch of the sprinkler you would be ok. Im not sure if that is the best place to smoke though.

[Zero102]

Depends both on the type and proximity of the detector. Different detectors check for different things, some check the opacity of the air, some the conductivity of the air, while others are heat detectors. I have seen some very sensitive heat detectors go off when a lighter is lit, but that would never cause the sprinklers to go off. They all have either a piece of lead, or another low-temperature melting device on the end, whose sole purpose is to plug the hole the water will come out of. Once they get hot (usually 40-60*C) the blockage melts, and you get wet.
So, you may set off some specific smoke/heat/fire detectors if you are close enough, but the sprinklers will not go off.


BTW, don't ever smoke in a university lecture hall.

[Gondi Stylez]

Originally posted by Zero102
BTW, don't ever smoke in a university lecture hall.