According to FEMA, fire kills more people in the United States than all natural disasters combined. On average 4,000 people perish in fires each year. Tens of thousands are seriously hurt, coping with burn and smoke inhalation injuries for the rest of their lives. Fire does not discriminate. Leading causes of fires in both old and new homes are directly related to human behavior, such as:

• cooking (both attended and unattended)
• heating fires (including space heaters)
• careless smoking
• children playing with matches and lighters

If one sprinkler goes off, don't they all go off?

That is Hollywood’s version. Only the sprinklers over the fire will activate. Sprinklers in each room react to temperatures individually; usually between 155 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit. So, a fire in a kitchen will activate only the sprinkler(s) in that room and 90 percent of fires are stopped by a single sprinkler head. A home fire sprinkler system is like having a firefighter on-duty 24 hours a day. Residents have more time to escape while fire sprinklers limit the growth and spread of fire, heat and toxic smoke.

Is there any chance the sprinklers will go off accidentally?

The modern systems that are used are manufactured and tested to the highest standards and are designed to be installed in the home. The chances of an accidental actuation have been estimated at 1:16,000,000 (one in sixteen million).

Why do I need sprinklers if I have a smoke detector?

Smoke detectors will save lives by providing a warning of smoke existence, but they can do nothing to extinguish a growing fire. Too often, battery operated smoke detectors fail to function because the batteries are dead or have been removed. Detectors must be maintained in good working order to help save your life. The combination of smoke detectors and sprinkler systems can reduce the loss of life by 98.5 percent, which is an increase of 48.5 percent over smoke detectors alone.

Do sprinklers cause water damage?

Sprinklers are designed to start putting water on a fire while it is still small and in the early stages of development before it gets to the flashover point. If the fire can be extinguished in the early stages, not only will it reduce water damage, but it will reduce fire damage too. Not nearly as much water is required for a residential sprinkler that flows 10 to 25 gallons per minute. The fire department uses hoses that flow 250 gallons per minute or more. The property loss in a home with residential sprinklers is only a fraction of the loss in a home with no sprinklers.

If I burn the toast and the smoke alarm goes off will the sprinkler activate?

Sprinklers are activated by heat. Smoke from any source including cooking will not activate the sprinkler. Smoke, cooking vapors or steam cannot cause the sprinklers to activate sprinklers only operate in response to the high temperature of a fire.

Aren't sprinkler systems ugly?

Sprinklers can be neatly concealed with no more than a 3/4 inch cap showing. Custom caps and covers are available in a range of colors. Ceiling and sidewall mount sprinkler heads blend into your home decor, and yet are effective fire protection.

Links

• Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
• Fire Sprinkler Initiative