Sep 22 2006
Former fire-fighter GretchenSchmeisser watched in disbelief as flames from her overheated van threatened to destroy her three-level townhome. Her shock soon turned to relief as she realized that a fire sprinkler had activated and was helping to contain the fire.
"Although residential fire sprinkler systems seem like a logical addition to a new home, in reality, only 2% of U.S. homes are currently protected," explains Alan Larson, product manager for Uponor, a leading manufacturer of residential fire protection systems. "However, newer technology and changes in municipal building codes are rapidly expanding the use of these life-saving devices."
Today, more than 200 local governments have enacted residential fire sprinkler ordinances, requiring the same life-saving technology for the home as is already available in commercial spaces and condominiums. To encourage additional sprinkler use, many municipalities offer developers incentives designed to lower construction costs, such as granting additional home site permits, narrower access roads and even increased fire hydrant spacing.
In addition to helping builders save on infrastructure costs, fire prevention technology is also becoming more affordable. By combining existing cold-water plumbing with a fire protection system, builders eliminate the need for a dedicated fire sprinkler system and related labor, thereby saving up to 15 percent over traditional systems.
One of the most prevalent combination or multipurpose fire protection systems is from Uponor, which uses an interconnected grid of flexible tubing to feed both the sprinklers and the cold-water plumbing fixtures. According to Larson, a key benefit of these interconnected systems is reliability -- you know your fire protection system is working each time the toilet is flushed, a faucet is used or the lawn is watered.
"Historically, builders have been too price-sensitive to include sprinklers and new-home buyers have favored more visible upgrades, like better carpeting or kitchen cabinets," says Larson. "In addition to saving lives, fire sprinkler systems -- unlike smoke alarms -- can actually control a fire and reduce the average property loss by as much as two-thirds."
While the cause of Gretchen Schmeisser's fire is still undetermined, Fire Marshal Tom Kaufman credits fire sprinklers for limiting damage to her home.
"If we did not have sprinklers in this home, the entire townhome building -- all seven homes -- would have been lost to this fire," maintains Kaufman. "While there was some light smoke damage, Ms. Schmeisser and her daughter were able to sleep there that very same evening. Without sprinklers, they would have likely been homeless."