Final answer:
Exterior exposure sprinklers form a water curtain to prevent fire spread between buildings, cooling exterior walls and providing a protective barrier. These systems are especially important in densely built urban areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exterior exposure sprinklers use open sprinkler heads to form a water curtain on the wall of a building. This water curtain is a safety feature designed to prevent the spread of fire from one building to another by cooling the exterior wall and any combustible elements exposed to radiant heat or direct fire impingement. The water curtain acts as a protective barrier, reducing the risk of the fire spreading and providing additional protection for firefighters as they work to extinguish the blaze.
In the context of fire safety engineering, such systems are crucial for high-density urban environments where buildings are in close proximity to each other. The design of these sprinkler systems takes into account the height of the building, prevailing winds, and the potential intensity of the fire to ensure adequate protection is provided.