Question 263Safety & Environmental - QMED

The correct answer is B) limit the spread of the fire and control the amount of heat produced. The primary function of an automatic sprinkler system is to contain and control the spread of a fire, rather than to extinguish it instantly or to protect people directly. Sprinklers are designed to activate when they detect heat from a fire, which triggers the release of water to the affected area. This helps limit the fire's growth and the amount of heat produced, preventing the fire from spreading rapidly and becoming more dangerous. While sprinklers can provide some protection for people in the area, their main purpose is to restrict the fire's progression, not to serve as a life-safety system. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the primary function of an automatic sprinkler system. Option A is incorrect because sprinklers are not designed to instantly extinguish fires. Option C is incorrect because protecting people is a secondary function, not the primary purpose. Option D is incorrect because sprinklers are not primarily intended to alert the crew to a fire, as they are an automatic system that activates based on heat detection.