Automatic fire sprinkler systems and automatic fire alarm systems are used from homes to high rises, including multi-family, mixed-use, commercial, and industrial properties. In addition, automatic fire sprinkler and alarm systems are becoming more common in single-family residences, and are even now required in new residential construction by many municipalities and some states. In many cases, these systems are tied together. Many firefighters are unsure how to operate when an automatic fire sprinkler and/or fire alarm system is present at a scene and how to interact with these systems during a response. Fire sprinklers will limit fire spread (thus minimizing property damage and life endangerment) but firefighters must still completely extinguish the fire. The volume of smoke produced by modern structure contents and the integration of new technologies require firefighters to prepare more than ever for building entry and fire suppression in properties where automatic fire sprinkler and alarm systems are present.

This self-paced program on the Fire Hero Learning Network explains the firefighter health and safety benefits of automatic fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems and provides a set of core principles guiding the firefighter's interaction with these systems.