The importance of residential sprinkler systems

Written By Cassie Benson

Although we protect our businesses from fire, what actions do we take to protect our families, our homes, and our possessions from fire? Millions of Americans have installed smoke alarms in their homes in the past few years, but a smoke alarm can only alert the occupants to a fire in the house … it cannot contain or extinguish a fire. Residential sprinkler systems can!

The average residential sprinkler discharges between 13 and 17 Gallons Per Minute. A fire hose from the Fire Department will discharge 250 Gallons Per Minute! It is obvious where most water damage will come from in these two scenarios.

Fires in residences have taken a high toll of life and property. In 2004 there were:

  • 410,500 residential fires
  • 3,225 civilian fire deaths
  • 14,175 civilian fire injuries
  • $6 billion in property damage
Data Source: Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2004, NFPA. August 2005.

Studies by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s United States Fire Administration indicate that the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems could have saved thousands of lives; prevented a large portion of those injuries; and eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in property losses.

Using quick response sprinklers and approved piping, homes can be built or even retrofitted to include low-cost automatic sprinkler systems connected to the domestic water supply.

Sprinkler systems offer advantages to the homebuilder:

  • A low-cost reliable safety option that would attract many buyers.
  • Trade-offs between sprinklers and code requirements that can result in lower construction costs, more units per area of land, etc.

For homeowners, the advantages include assurance of a safer environment for their families, protection of their investment and irreplaceable family possessions, and lower insurance rates 5 to 15 percent.

To learn more about home sprinkler systems visit this helpful link:
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/safety/sprinklers/

Contact us today and learn more about protecting the single most significant investment most people make and the one that means the most—your personal home.

Cassie Benson