A support system for a fire protection sprinkler, comprising: a support bar having first and second ends with a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends; a pair of end brackets disposed at said ends of said support bar; and a center bracket assembly mounted on said support bar and including a support bracket and a hinge bracket pivotally connected to said support bracket by a hinge pin, said support bracket includes a first pair of opposed side legs and said hinge bracket includes a second pair of opposed side legs, said first and second pairs of opposed side legs (34, 50) being pivotally connected to one another by the hinge pin extending through each of said first and second pairs of opposed side legs (34, 50) and said support bar being received directly between said first pair of opposed side legs and said second pair of opposed side legs, said hinge bracket and said support bracket combining to define an opening (42, 58) for receiving a sprinkler adapter therein, wherein said opening (42, 58) is disposed on a first side of the longitudinal axis of said support bar and said hinge pin is disposed on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis of said support bar from said first side, wherein one of said support bracket and said hinge bracket includes an aperture for receiving a threaded fastener and the other of said support bracket and said hinge bracket including a threaded aperture for receiving said threaded fastener therein and securing said center bracket assembly in a closed condition, and wherein a longitudinal axis of said threaded fastener is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support bar. a support bar having first and second ends with a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends; a pair of end brackets disposed at said ends of said support bar; and a center bracket assembly mounted on said support bar and including a support bracket and a hinge bracket pivotally connected to said support bracket by a hinge pin, said support bracket includes a first pair of opposed side legs and said hinge bracket includes a second pair of opposed side legs, said first and second pairs of opposed side legs (34, 50) being pivotally connected to one another by the hinge pin extending through each of said first and second pairs of opposed side legs (34, 50) and said support bar being received directly between said first pair of opposed side legs and said second pair of opposed side legs, said hinge bracket and said support bracket combining to define an opening (42, 58) for receiving a sprinkler adapter therein, wherein said opening (42, 58) is disposed on a first side of the longitudinal axis of said support bar and said hinge pin is disposed on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis of said support bar from said first side, wherein one of said support bracket and said hinge bracket includes an aperture for receiving a threaded fastener and the other of said support bracket and said hinge bracket including a threaded aperture for receiving said threaded fastener therein and securing said center bracket assembly in a closed condition, and wherein a longitudinal axis of said threaded fastener is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support bar.