Most fire deaths in the US occur in private residences. Most private residence fire deaths are due to careless smoking. Most private residence fire damage is due to unattended cooking. Private residence smoke detectors and sprinkler heads operate as entirely separate systems but an activation signal from either one or both can send a signal via telephone to a private security company that could then call the local fire department. Private residence smoke detectors are for the purpose of alerting occupants of a possible fire when you are sleeping or to a fire in an unoccupied part of the house when you are awake. Since someone would normally be awake and in attendance when cooking is in progress, smoke detectors are not required to be located in cooking areas. A private residence sprinkler system uses the quick response type that operates only when the temperature at an individual head is greater than 135 degrees and they are normally located in the center of spaces rather than directly above cooking appliances. Burning eggs could not possibly cause a sprinkler head to operate but if a large grease fire on a stove top raised the temperature at a sprinkler head above 135 degrees you would not still be in the kitchen; you would be outside trying to reach the fire department. Seeing a sprinkler head put out a fire in your home is a very is one of the most "Fire detectors" detect heat and provide an alarm signal and are used where sprinklers and smoke detectors are not permitted (some kinds of electrical rooms and elevator shafts, etc.) I can't think of a location in a private residence where one would be required.

A residential fire suppression system is different from a commercial one. It usually involves quick response heads and plastic piping fed by either a dedicated municipal water supply or water storage tanks. The heads operate quickly and only in the fire room and are easy to shut off if you are home but often water flow will signal a security company, etc. Of course, if you are not home the sprinkle will do far less damage than an out of control fire not to mention the water damage caused by fire fighters. If you are not near a fire service or a hydrant the system might be the only way to avoid a total loss.

Can you raise the height of the drop ceiling? If not you will really have no choice but to lower the sprinkler heads.

Thanks, klem1. I wasn't expecting a magical solution to the leak source over the net... although that would be quite amazing. I was only hoping for some thoughts on if there could be anything in the ceiling that would interfere with a moisture meter reading. And also, if I've had a leak with 30% moisture for over a month, is it odd that there is no other water staining/water on the floor associated with this? - It would seem that after a month there would be some ceiling staining or some more signs of water.