Can Sprinklers Be Used on All Fire Classes?
As you probably already know, not all fires are the same. In fact, there are six different classes of fire that can occur in homes and businesses, each defined by the type of fuel involved:
- Class A: Solid materials
- Class B: Flammable liquids
- Class C: Gases
- Class D: Metals
- Class E: Electrical equipment
- Class F: Cooking oils and fats
Each fire class requires the correct type of extinguisher — foam, water, wet chemical, CO2, or dry powder. Water-based extinguishers are typically recommended for Class A fires. That raises an important question: what happens if a sprinkler system activates for a fire caused by something other than solid materials? Can this cause problems, or can sprinklers safely be used across all fire classes?
Sprinkler Systems & Fire Types
Firstly, modern sprinkler systems aren’t limited to using water. Today, sprinklers can be enhanced with foam additives to improve control over certain fire types — such as Class B flammable liquid fires — which would normally require a foam-based extinguisher.
However, let’s focus on standard water-based sprinklers and how they perform in situations involving Class B, Class E, and Class F fires — the most likely to occur in typical homes and workplaces. So, are water sprinklers a safe and effective fire protection solution for fires caused by cooking oils, liquids, and electrical sources?
The short answer: yes.
Class B & Class F Fires
You may have heard that if your chip pan catches fire, the worst thing you can do is throw water on it — and that’s true. Water instantly boils on contact with burning oil, creating a dangerous fireball that spreads flames rapidly. So why are water-based sprinklers different?
It comes down to how the water is applied. Sprinkler systems release a fine mist or spray of water — delivering small amounts continuously — which suppresses the fire effectively without causing the violent reaction that comes from throwing or pouring water. According to the Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Service, sprinklers can reduce damage from chip pan fires in the home by up to 50%.
Class E Fires
You’ve probably also heard that you shouldn’t use water to extinguish an electrical fire. That advice exists primarily to protect firefighters — water can conduct electricity back to the person using a handheld extinguisher, posing a risk of electric shock.
Automatic sprinkler systems don’t have this issue because they operate independently. There’s no manual handling involved. In fact, according to BAFSA, there have been “instances where fires have started in server rooms but have been extinguished by a single sprinkler head, preventing any fire spread from the room of origin.”
Protecting Your Home & Business
There are many myths about sprinkler systems — and about other fire protection methods such as dry & wet risers. Don’t believe everything you hear. If you’re unsure what’s fact or fiction, or you’d like advice on the best way to protect your property, speak to the experts.
The Eversafe Fire Protection team is here to help. Call us on 01795 713123 or contact us online today.