Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems

Residential Fire
Sprinkler Systems

Community Fire Safety Operational Guide Participant Guideline

What is a Residential Fire Sprinkler System?

Residential fire sprinklers are very similar to commercial sprinkler systems. They are devices installed in homes that attack a fire in its early stages by discharging water. It has been well established that fire sprinklers are extremely effective in controlling and limiting a fire in its earliest stages, thereby limiting property loss and reducing injuries and deaths.
Wet-pipe sprinklers combined with hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms maximize home fire safety.
In home fires deemed large enough to activate fire sprinklers, sprinklers were effective 99% of the time.
If you have a fire in your home, the risk of dying decreases by about 80% when sprinklers are present.
Residential sprinklers keep fires small. Because the residential sprinkler system reacts so quickly, it can dramatically reduce the heat, flames, and smoke produced in a fire, allowing people time to escape safely.

Never attach or hang items from sprinkler heads.
Do not paint or cover sprinkler heads.
Make sure heads are free of dust and debris.
Notify your insurance company of your home fire sprinkler system for a possible discount.
Most fire fatalities happen in homes. Residential fire sprinkler systems can help reduce that statistic.

Myth: A smoke alarm is enough protection.
Fact: Smoke alarms alert you to, but do nothing to extinguish a fire.
Myth: Water damage from a sprinkler system will cause more damage than the fire.
Fact:Water damage from a home sprinkler system will be much less than the damage caused by water from firefighting hose lines.
Myth: When a fire occurs, every sprinkler head goes off.
Fact: Sprinkler heads are individually activated by heat.
Myth: Sprinklers are not effective for life safety.
Fact: With working sprinkler in place, there is a greater chance for survival.

The cost of a sprinkler system varies depending on whether it is installed during the home construction or is a retrofitted system.

The installation cost for a new house under construction runs approximately $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot.

Retrofitting a sprinkler system may cost from $2.00 to $4.00 per square foot.

Insurance and other price discounts for having a system that protects your property may reduce the cost of your homeowner’s insurance.

“Smoke Alarms and Exit Drills in the Home...A Plan You Can Live With”