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This is a close-up view of a ceiling-mounted fire sprinkler. The exposed part (what you can see on the ceiling) of this sprinkler measures 1 5/8" long and 1 1/4" wide. Many residential fire sprinklers are recessed into the ceiling so that as little as 1/2" is visible and some are completely recessed and covered with flat caps that match the ceiling.
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The threaded end at the top screws into a water pipe in the ceiling and is not visible from below.
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The cap/seal prevents water from flowing out. The glass bulb holds the cap/seal in place
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The glass bulb is filled with liquid and a small bubble.
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Heat from a fire will expand the liquid and break the bulb. The cap/seal falls away and water will stream out.
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The water stream hits the deflector, which breaks it into a spray of tiny droplets, which cools the source of the fire thereby extinguishing it.
Just click on the picture left for a larger image
