u201c upper u201d u201c horizontal u201d u201c vertical u201d u201c above u201d u201c below u201d u201c up u201d u201c down u201d u201c top u201d and u201c bottom u201d as well as derivative thereof e g u201c horizontally u201d u201c downwardly u201d u201c upwardly u201d etc should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion these relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation terms concerning attachments coupling and the like such as u201c connected u201d and u201c interconnected u201d refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships unless expressly described otherwise reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout fig1 is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier 100 comprised of a water soluble material or a material that reacts exothermically with water according to an embodiment a protective barrier 100 can be comprised entirely of a water soluble polymer which can prevent dust and debris from reaching a protected area when dry this protective barrier can dissolve in full or in part when contacted by water allowing water from a fire suppression sprinkler system 101 to reach a fire 102 located below the protective barrier 100 the protective barrier 100 can be comprised of a polymer comprising polyvinyl alcohol or any other suitable water soluble material known to one of ordinary skill in the art a protective barrier 100 can also be comprised entirely of materials that.