In which type of sprinkler system are all sprinkler heads activated simultaneously?

A deluge sprinkler system is designed so that all sprinkler heads activate simultaneously. This is particularly effective in high-hazard areas where rapid suppression of a fire is critical. When the system is triggered, typically by a heat detector or manual activation, it allows water to flow through all open sprinkler heads at the same time rather than just the ones in the immediate vicinity of the fire. This uniform spray of water covers a large area, which helps to quickly control or extinguish a fire that may spread rapidly.

Deluge systems are primarily used in settings like chemical storage facilities or airplane hangars, where the potential for fast-spreading fires is high. The immediate presence of water over a broad area can prevent escalation and provide vital time for safe evacuation and firefighting efforts. The other types of sprinkler systems—dry-pipe, preaction, and wet-pipe—function differently, with each having its own specific applications and activation methods, which do not allow for simultaneous activation across all heads.