A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection

Active fire protection

Active fire protection is an integral part of fire protection. AFP is characterised by items and/or systems, which require a certain amount of motion and response in order to work, contrary to passive fire protection.-Fire suppression:...

 measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinkler

Fire sprinkler

A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected...

s are connected. Although historically only used in factories and large commercial buildings, home and small building systems are now available at a cost-effective price.
The world’s first recognizable sprinkler system was installed in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...

 in the United Kingdom in 1812 by its architect .