Understanding how a fire protection system functions it is important to understand the functionality of fire protection systems systems work in different ways but all have a common goal to detect a fire and protect the building its occupants and valuables a common fire protection system is a smoke detector and a sprinkler if a fire . A fire protection system is a network of compatible with each other devices that are designed to detect a fire and counteract its devastating effects the sooner a fire is detected and located the greater the chance it is efficiently extinguished and its negative effects are minimized in summary fire protection systems can save material . Main components of fire protection systems automatic fire sprinklers as implied by their name automatic sprinklers respond to fire without human intervention standpipes a standpipe is a piping system that delivers water from a main source to hose connections in key locations fire alarm