How Fire Sprinklers Save Lives
HOME FIRE FACTS
FIRE SPRINKLER MYTHS
Some homeowners are reluctant to install sprinklers because they don't know the facts about their operation.
Myth: The water damage from sprinklers is worse than a fire.
Fact: A sprinkler activates during the early stages of a fire before it grows and spreads. A sprinkler will control or extinguish a fire with a tiny fraction of the water that would be used by fire department hoses. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire, not the rest of the house.
Myth: Sprinklers go off accidentally, causing unnecessary water damage
Fact: Accidental sprinkler discharge is extremely rare. One study concluded that home sprinkler accidents are generally less likely and less severe than standard home plumbing mishaps. And, despite the hollywood "sight gags", burned toast and cigarette smoke will not trigger sprinkler operation. Each sprinkler works independently and only in response to fire.
Myth: Sprinklers are ugly
Fact: Modern residential sprinklers are inconspicuous and can be mounted flush with walls or ceilings. Some sprinklers can even be concealed. And just like regular plumbing, pipes can be hidden behind ceilings or walls.
Fire kills more people in the United Sates annually than all natural disasters combined. In fact, more than 4,000 people perish in fires each year, and ironically, most fire deaths occur in the very place where we feel safest-our own homes. Home fires often happen at night when people are sleeping. In only three minutes, a room can become engulfed in flames before anyone awakens. Those at highest risk are the very young and older adults, who may have difficulty making a quick escape
Smoke alarms are essential in every household. They're designed to detect, not control a fire. Home fire sprinklers complement the alarm's work, providing a way to fight flames immediately. In less time than it would take the most fire departments to arrive on the scene, home fire sprinklers can contain and even extinguish a fire. There's less damage, and less chance of deadly smoke and gases reaching your family.
How Fire Sprinklers Work
Sprinklers are linked by a network of piping, typically hidden behind walls and ceilings and usually drawing upon household water sources.
Protection you Can Live With
When building a home, you choose from many options-carpeting, a fireplace or an extra bathroom, for instance. For about the same cost, you can choose a home fire sprinkler system to safeguard your family. No other option provides you with the peace of mind that fire sprinklers can. It's like having your own firefighter standing by.
Recent technology breakthroughs make fire sprinklers more affordable and easier to install homes. With a variety of designs available, sprinklers blend into the interior decor with ease. And, sprinkler systems usually operate off the domestic water supply.
Home fire sprinkler systems often cost less than cabinet upgrades, new carpeting and many other options in new home construction. A good rule is to add 1 to 1.5 percent to the cost of new housing. Fire sprinklers can also be installed in existing homes. When you consider the degree of built-in reliability and responsiveness that home fire sprinklers offer, the investment is a wise one.
Sprinklers: A Safe, Smart Choice
Fire sprinklers are mandatory in most public buildings, and people are now demanding the same level of protection for their homes. Home fire sprinklers save lives, reduce property damage and can even cut homeowners' insurance premiums.
Not only do home fire sprinklers dramatically reduce the risk of home fire deaths, they also decrease fire damage by as much as two-thirds when compared to homes without sprinklers
Many communities across the U.S. are seeing impressive results from installing home fire sprinklers in all new construction. In Scottsdale, AZ, fire sprinklers have been required in all new homes since 1986. Today, more than half the homes in Scottsdale are protected with sprinklers. There have been no deaths in sprinklered homes, while 13 people died in homes with no sprinklers. There was less damage in the homes with sprinklers. The average fire loss per sprinklered incident was $2,166 compared to more than $45,000 loss per fire in homes without fire sprinklers.