GREENWICH TOWNSHIP

BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION

HOME FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
BY FOLLOWING THESE FIRE SAFETY TIPSYOU WILL REDUCE
THE CHANCE OF SEEING ONE OF THESE IN YOUR DRIVEWAY
CONSIDER INSTALLING AN AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN YOUR HOME
Although smoke alarms are essential in every household, they're designed to detect, not control, a fire.
Home fire sprinklers complement the alarm's work, providing a way to fight flames immediately. In less
time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene, home fire sprinklers can contain and
even extinguish a fire. There's less damage and less chance of deadly smoke and gases reaching your
family. In addition, sprinkler systems can put out fire while you are away from home, and if they are
connected to an alarm system, may even notify the fire department in your absence.
When building a home, for about the same expenditure of installing
carpet, upgrading cabinets, or adding a spa, you can install a home
fire sprinkler system to safeguard your family. A good rule of thumb
estimate is to add one to one-and-a-half percent to the cost of new
housing. Fire sprinklers can also be installed in exsisting homes.
When you consider the degree of built-in reliability and responsiveness
that home fire sprinklers offer, the investment is a wise one.
Modern residential sprinklers are inconspicuous and can be mounted
flush with walls or ceilings. Some sprinklers can even be concealed.
Just like regular plumbing, pipes can be hidden behind ceilings or
walls.
Some insurance companies provide significant discounts when
automatic fire sprinkler systems are installed.
Sprinklers keep fires small. In sprinklered residences, 90 percent
of fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler. Each
head is independently activated by the heat of a fire as needed.
Only the sprinkler heads in the immediate are of the flames
wil operate.
The odds are 1 in 16 million that a sprinkler will accidently discharge
because of a manufacturing defect. One study concluded that improper
sprinkler operation is generally less likely and less severe than mishaps
involving standard home plumbing systems. Despite the "sight gags"
on television sitcoms, burnt toast or cigarette smoke is not enough to
trigger sprinkler operation.
Home fire sprinklers decrease fire damage by as much as two-
thirds in residences with fire sprinklers when compared with those
without sprinklers. Because the fire sprinkler systems reacts so
quickly, it can dramatically reduce the heat, flames, and smoke
produced in a fire. And, home fire sprinkler systems release only
10 to 26 gallons of water per minute. In a home without sprinklers,
a fire department often arrives after the fire has grown to dangerous
levels. At that point, a number of hose streams must be applied
to the fire at 125 gallons per minute for each hose. The resulting
water damage is actually much lower with home fire sprinklers
To ensure sprinkler system reliability, be sure to use a qualified
contractor who adheres to NFPA codes and standards and local
fire safety regulations
"ALL FIRE SAFETY TIPS ARE COMPILED FROM NFPA"
FOLLOW ME BACK TO SFD"S FIRE PREVENTION SITE
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