Patent ID: 6868917

Claim:
A low pressure, early suppression fast response sprinkler for suppression of a high-challenge fire created by a high-challenge fire hazard, the sprinkler comprising: a generally tubular body having an inlet end, an opposing discharge end and an internal passageway extending between the inlet and discharge ends with a K factor greater than 16 where the K factor equals the flow of water in gallons per minute through the internal passageway divided by the square root of the pressure of water fed into the tubular body in pounds per square inch gauge; at least one support arm disposed on the tubular body; a deflector coupled with the tubular body via the at least one support arm and spaced from and generally aligned with the discharge end of the internal passageway so as to be impacted by a flow of water issuing from the discharge end of the passageway upon activation of the sprinkler by the high-challenge fire, the deflector being configured and positioned to deflect the flow of water generally radially outwardly all around the sprinkler to provide suppression of the high-challenge fire created by the high-challenge fire hazard; a closure releasably positioned at the discharge end of the tubular body so as to close the internal passageway; and a heat responsive trigger mounted to releasably retain the closure at the discharge end of the tubular body, the trigger having a response time index of less than 100 meter 1/2 sec 1/2 (m 1/2 sec 1/2 ).