Sprinklers subject to overspray accumulation shall be protected using cellophane bags having a thickness of ___________ or less, or thin paper bags?

Sprinklers subject to overspray accumulation shall be protected using cellophane bags having a thickness of ___________ or less, or thin paper bags?

• A. 0.0005 inches
• B. 0.001 inches
• C. 0.0003 inches
• D. 0.0001 inches

Answer: (C)

The idea is to protect sprinklers from overspray without altering how the sprinkler operates or how water is discharged. Using coverings around sprinkler heads must be extremely thin so they don’t interfere with the spray pattern, the deflector, or the heat-responsive elements. A thickness of 0.0003 inches strikes that balance: it’s thin enough to minimize any impact on water distribution and response, yet sturdy enough to handle handling and installation. If the bags were thicker (for example 0.0005 or 0.001 inches), they could change the spray characteristics or create additional resistance around the head, which could skew test results. If the bag were too thin (like 0.0001 inches), it might tear or puncture during setup or testing, defeating the protection purpose. Hence, the recommended maximum thickness is 0.0003 inches, with thin paper bags as an acceptable alternative.

The idea is to protect sprinklers from overspray without altering how the sprinkler operates or how water is discharged. Using coverings around sprinkler heads must be extremely thin so they don’t interfere with the spray pattern, the deflector, or the heat-responsive elements. A thickness of 0.0003 inches strikes that balance: it’s thin enough to minimize any impact on water distribution and response, yet sturdy enough to handle handling and installation.

If the bags were thicker (for example 0.0005 or 0.001 inches), they could change the spray characteristics or create additional resistance around the head, which could skew test results. If the bag were too thin (like 0.0001 inches), it might tear or puncture during setup or testing, defeating the protection purpose. Hence, the recommended maximum thickness is 0.0003 inches, with thin paper bags as an acceptable alternative.