Residential Fire Sprinklers

Fire in the home poses one of the biggest threats to the people of your community. Nearly 400,000 home fires occur every year in the United States and nearly 3,000 people a year died in these home fires. Home fire sprinklers are a proven way to protect lives and property against fires. At home these lifesaving systems respond quickly and effectively to the presence of a nearby fire when sprinklers are present they save lives.

Visible portion of a sprinkler

Effectiveness of Sprinklers

If you have a reported fire in your home, the risk of dying decreases by about 80% when sprinklers are present. People in homes with sprinklers are protected against significant property loss. Sprinklers reduce the average property loss by 74%.

Requirements

Fire model safety codes now require the use of home fire sprinklers in new 1 and 2 family homes. These requirements offer the highest level of safety to protect the people of your community. Home sprinkler systems respond quickly to reduce the heat, flames, and smoke from a fire, giving families valuable time to get to safety.

Roughly 90% of the time just 1 sprinkler operates. Each individual sprinkler is designed and calibrated to go off when it senses a significant heat change. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire. Visit the Fire Sprinkler Initiative website for more information.

Residential Sprinkler Costs

The fire protection research foundation's home fire sprinkler cost assessment report reveals that the cost of installing home fire sprinklers averages $161 per square foot for new construction.

Sprinkler system being installed in a home

Cost Perspective

To put the cost of a sprinkler system into perspective many people pay similar amounts for carpet upgrades, a paving stone driveway, or a whirlpool bath. Sales in many U.S. communities where sprinkler systems are available show that not only are consumers requesting this feature, but also that houses with sprinkler systems are selling faster than those without. Installing home fire sprinklers can help residents significantly reduce property loss in the event of fire, cut homeowner insurance premiums, help qualify home for a tax rebate, and help support local fire service efforts.