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An Automatic Fire Sprinkler System, that is correctly installed and maintained, is a highly effective safeguard against loss of life and property damage by fire. In most instances it can detect and control fire before hazardous heat, smoke and gas conditions are created.

 Fire Protection Association (FPA) have published the following data.

Effectiveness of a fire sprinkler system:  

• In fully sprinkler protected premises, automatic sprinklers can be expected to control fires in over 95% of cases.
• In over 90% of cases the fire can be expected to be controlled within the system’s design area of operation. 
• In over 50% of cases fire can be expected to be controlled within an area of 24m² to 42m².

Reliability of a well maintained and regularly inspected fire sprinkler system is considered upward of 95%

Common reasons for fire sprinkler failures are:

• Isolated: Due to leaks in the system, or to avoid vandalism causing accidental discharge and flooding of the facility. 
• Inadequate maintenance in occupied and unoccupied facilities: Failure to perform regular inspections and testing can lead to failures in system. Over time, components can become damaged, corroded, or obstructed, reducing their effectiveness.
• Corrosion: Corrosion is a common issue in fire sprinkler systems, particularly if the pipes are made of black steel. Corrosion can lead to leaks, blockages, or weakened pipe integrity, causing the system to fail. Non-invasive simple to implement pipe thickness testing regimes are recommended in older systems to identify this issue before failure. 
• Obstructions: Obstructions to sprinkler heads, such as protective caps, tape and painted heads during a fitout can prevent the sprinklers from discharging water properly or inhibit their activation during a fire. Regular inspections and audits can
  help avoid this issue.
• Incorrect design or installation: If the fire sprinkler system is not designed or installed correctly, it may not adequately cover the intended area or deliver the required water flow and pressure. For example, incorrect hazard classification was applied to the design, this can result in ineffective fire suppression in the event of a fire. This can also be caused by building churn or change of use. Particular attention should be paid to the sprinkler installation in any building fitout changes.
• Type of system: Preventing false water discharge in a Hospital Operating Theatre that could cause harm to an occupant (e.g. contamination, infection, etc); in that area for example a Pre-action fire sprinkler system may be more appropriate. 
• Lifecycle: Fire sprinkler systems have an expected life, and as they age, their components can deteriorate or become less reliable. Older systems may be more prone to failures if they have not been properly maintained or upgraded. It is very important to note that regulatory requirements for fire sprinkler system Inspection and Test regimes have monthly, three-monthly, six-monthly, yearly, 5 yearly, 10 yearly, 25 yearly and 30 yearly requirements. The longer term requirements can be difficult to keep track of in older installations however are important to address to ensure systems are operable.
• Recalled fire sprinkler heads: Recalled fire sprinkler heads due to the performance of their O-ring degrading over time. These sprinkler heads can corrode or minerals, salts and other contaminants in water can affect the rubber O-ring seals. These factors could cause the sprinkler heads not to activate in a fire. Up to date Information on recalled sprinkler heads is readily available. Fire services providers should be able to provide advice on the status of fire sprinkler heads.

Fire Growth Rate

The Automatic Fire Sprinkler System is an engineered system designed to control a fire within minutes of it starting. The basis of the fire sprinkler design is to keep a fire a relatively small size and under control; not necessarily extinguish the fire. Although on many occasions fire has been extinguished (e.g. suppression) before fire brigade intervention. In the event a facility does not have a fire sprinkler system or failure of the facility’s fire sprinkler system can result in a fully developed fire (e.g. loss of control) and potentially catastrophic failure of the facility.  The figure below illustrates the three fire scenarios clearly.