A device is provided for triggering a fire extinguishing system by a sprinkler, the device being arranged between the pipe for the extinguishing agent and the sprinkler and including a multiple-armed toggle-lever joint acting between a load axis of the triggering element and a sealing element that is arranged at an angle of 80 to 120° thereto. The device has the advantage that dry pipe sprinklers whose glass bulbs can only absorb low mechanical forces can also be arranged for use with pipes that exhibit large entry cross-sections, large volume flows and high pressures as the forces from the pipe that arise have to be absorbed only in part by the sprinkler glass bulb. It is further advantageous that the sealing force of the sealing element can be adjusted by means of an actuator.