First choose the head type by where it is mounted. Pendent (pendant) heads face down from the pipe and suit false ceiling and open ceiling areas, upright heads face up on exposed pipework in warehouses, sheds and plant areas, and sidewall heads fit on a wall and spray across the room where ceiling piping is not possible; all six brands list these three types. For finished interiors there are recessed pendents with an adjustable escutcheon, and concealed pendents hidden behind a flat cover plate from Tyco (Royal Flush II and others), HD Fire, Kartar Valves and New Age. Kartar Valves rosette plates and Tyco escutcheons in Styles 10 to 70 give a neat finish around the ceiling cut out.
Next set the response, temperature rating and K factor to the design. Standard response heads use a 5 mm glass bulb and quick response heads a 3 mm bulb, which opens sooner; Tyco also lists a 4 mm special response bulb for VdS designs, and solder link heads. Pick a rating above the highest normal ceiling temperature: 68°C is the rating listed by Savemax (as standard), Kartar Valves and Balaji Fire Safety, HD Fire lists 57°C, 68°C, 79°C and 93°C, Tyco glass bulb heads run from 57°C to 182°C, and Tyco Quartzoid high temperature heads are rated 204°C, 260°C or 343°C. The K factor sets the flow at a given pressure: K5.6 (80 metric) heads with a ½ inch thread cover most light and ordinary hazard areas, while K8.0, K11.2 and larger heads, mostly with ¾ inch threads, give more water at lower pressure. HD Fire lists K5.6, K8 and K11.2 heads, and Tyco runs from K3.0 residential heads up to K33.6 storage heads.
Warehouses, cold stores and special areas need specific heads, which Tyco lists in depth. For high-piled and rack storage there are ESFR pendent and upright heads from K14.0 to K33.6, which for specified commodities and heights avoid in-rack sprinklers, plus control mode (CMSA) and K11.2 and K16.8 storage heads, and intermediate level heads with guards and shields for in-rack use. Unheated areas and cold stores use dry type heads (Tyco DS series and dry ESFR) with the DSB-2 boot for freezer ceilings. Tyco also lists residential, extended coverage, attic, window, institutional (tamper resistant), MRI room and corrosion resistant heads in stainless steel, SMO, titanium or polyester coated brass, and HD Fire offers extended coverage sidewall heads.
Finally check approvals and accessories. Savemax heads are ISI marked to IS 15105 and Kartar Valves K908.I heads are ISI marked; New Age heads are UL Listed; HD Fire heads are UL Listed, several also FM Approved; and Tyco lists UL, C-UL, FM, LPCB, VdS or CE by model. Balaji Fire Safety heads are listed without approval details, so FPS confirms them on enquiry. Where the branch pipe runs above a false ceiling, a flexible drop links it to the head below without cutting or re-routing pipe: Savemax drops come in 700, 1000, 1200, 1500 and 1800 mm and are BIS/ISI marked, and the HD Fire HD-FLEX stainless steel drop is UL Listed and FM Approved. Add guards where heads can be knocked (HD Fire, Tyco), a spare sprinkler cabinet (HD Fire for 12 or 24 heads, Tyco for 6 or 12), and Kartar Valves SS 304 test and drain valves in 25 to 50 mm.