Sidewall Sprinkler Head Specifications

Sidewall sprinkler heads are used when sprinklers cannot be installed in the ceiling. These stand out from a wall and have special deflectors designed to discharge most of their water away from the nearby wall. The spray comes in a pattern that resembles a half-circle, with a small portion of the discharge directed at the wall behind the sprinkler. There are different types of sidewall sprinkler heads.

Sidewall sprinkler heads are made of brass and stainless steel and are installed with their deflectors located four to six inches from the ceiling. A sprinkler head is positioned five feet away from obstructions, and in case of an obstruction, the sprinkler head is installed so that the center of the obstruction is aligned with the center of the head. If the sprinkler heads cannot be placed five feet from an obstruction, the heads will be placed at either side of the obstruction. The obstructions, environmental conditions, and design requirements would dictate what kind of sidewall sprinkler head would be installed in a specific space.

Pendent and upright sidewalls look like standard sprinklers except their deflectors have been "bent" to direct the discharge spray. Pendent heads are mounted below the water pipe or under ceilings, and upright heads are mounted above the water pipe. Pendents and uprights are considered vertical sidewall sprinklers. The sprinkler heads are designed for use in conditions where sediment or foreign materials might accumulate in standard drop nipples. The pendents’ appearance and visibility vary based on how they are mounted in the ceiling. These kinds of sidewall sprinkler heads also make use of a cover or escutcheon plate, which may be made of brass and stainless steel.

Horizontal sidewall sprinkler heads are the most common type of sidewall sprinklers. These sprinkler heads are designed to be installed along a wall or the side of a beam and just beneath a smooth ceiling. Horizontal sidewalls are generally used in place of pendent or upright sprinklers because of aesthetic, building construction, or installation economy considerations. The dry type of these sidewall sprinklers are designed for use in special applications where residue or other deposits might accumulate in ordinary horizontal pipe nipples. Horizontals are usually made of brass and stainless steel.

These sidewall sprinkler heads are called such because they are designed for installation on concealed pipe systems. The sprinkler is hidden from view by a small diameter cover plate installed on the same level with the wall, which gives it a low profile. A concealed horizontal sidewall sprinkler head comes with an adapter and a cover assembly that are available in various decorative finishes to suit the interior design of a room. The multi-piece assembly also allows the installation and testing of the sprinkler prior to the installation of the cover plate. Because of the cover plate, all that is seen on the wall is a 3 1/4-inch diameter plate, finished to match the color of the wall. In addition to providing an aesthetically pleasing design and making the sprinkler less noticeable, the wall plate assembly also gives protection to the sprinkler from flying or hanging objects.