For typical residential and commercial applications, they are not designed to do that. Each sprinkler head has its own activation, usually a glass bulb or solder plate that holds the seat in place holding back the water. Once the heat melts the plate or bursts the bulb, the water flows. Some special hazard situations utilize a deluge system that has all the sprinkler heads open. A pilot system is used, so if any part of the pilot system activates, water will flow through all the sprinkler heads. Don’t believe the movies!
When one goes off, do they all go off?
For typical residential and commercial applications, they are not designed to do that. Each sprinkler head has its own activation, usually a glass bulb or solder plate that holds the seat in place holding back the water. Once the heat melts the plate or bursts the bulb, the water flows. Some special hazard situations utilize a deluge system that has all the sprinkler heads open. A pilot system is used, so if any part of the pilot system activates, water will flow through all the sprinkler heads. Don’t believe the movies!