If a sprinkler is color coded Black, what color bulb does it use?

• A. Orange/Red
• B. Yellow/Green
• C. Blue
• D. Purple

Answer: (A)

Sprinkler heads use color coding to indicate the temperature at which they will release, and that color is shown on the glass bulb inside the head. The bulb color and the head’s body color are paired according to standardized charts so you can quickly identify the operating temperature. For a sprinkler head that is color coded black, the bulb color that matches this pairing is orange/red. The orange/red bulb signals the specific temperature rating associated with that black head. Other bulb colors correspond to different ratings and aren’t paired with the black-coded head, which is why orange/red is the correct match. If you’re ever unsure, consult the manufacturer’s color chart for the exact pairing, since exact color-to-rating mappings can vary by brand.