External fire prevention system

Claim 1

A fire prevention system responsive to ambient smoke presence prior to building ignition comprising the combination of: a structural building having a strategic selected side facing windward and an elevated roof partially supported by said selected side; a sprinkler system mounted on said building roof adapted to distribute water over said roof; a source of pressurized water operably coupled to said sprinkler system; control means mounted externally of said building interconnecting said water source to said sprinkler system operable in response to the presence of ambient smoke external of said building to actuate said sprinkler system; said control means includes a smoke detector external of said building critically disposed adjacent said selected building side facing windward and a solenoid-operated valve actuated in response to said smoke detector to connect said water supply to said sprinkler system; said control means includes a deactivation circuit for disconnecting said water supply from said sprinkler system in response to the absence of smoke via said solenoid-operated valve; manual switch means coupled to said activation circuit for overriding said control means to effect manual operation of said solenoid-operated valve; and said control means including said solenoid-operated valve critically located on said external side of said building facing windward in order to be sensitive to ambient wind carrying smoke generated from other than said building.