Residential Fire Sprinklers
Why install home fire sprinklers?
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8 out of every 10 fire deaths occur in the home. That means that only 20% of fire deaths occur in public places that have fire sprinklers. There is a greater risk of dying in your own home than a public place.
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Fire sprinklers have the ability to contain and potentially extinguish a fire, even before the fire department arrives! This gives your family more time to escape the home.
Myth vs. Fact
Myth: When one sprinkler is activated, all of them are activated.
Fact: Each individual sprinkler head responds to heat from the fire, and is only activated if that specific sprinkler head detects the heat.
Myth: Sprinklers are activated by smoke.
Fact: Sprinklers are activated by heat, NOT smoke.
Myth: Home sprinkler systems are expensive to install.
Fact: A home fire sprinkler system costs about $1.35 per square foot and lowers your insurance rates by 5-15%, within meeting code requirements! Houses that have installed sprinkler systems sell faster than other houses as well.
Myth: Home Fire Sprinklers often leak or activate accidentally.
Fact: Home Fire Sprinkler systems are similar to other systems, like plumbing, and when maintained properly have a low risk of leaks.
Myth: Residential Fire Sprinklers require frequent, difficult maintenance.
Fact: Home Fire Sprinklers simply require making sure nothing is blocking the sprinkler heads and that the main control valve is not turned off.
NFPA Face's of Fire Campaign
Click here to watch the latest video produced for the NFPA's Faces of Fire Campaign.
A component of the NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative, this video details the journey and recovery of burn survivors post-fire, emphasizing the importance of fire sprinkler systems in new homes.
In 2012, Maryland passed a Residential Fire Sprinkler Law that required any new houses built after 2012 to have working fire sprinklers. Outlying Counties agreed to a three year gap before having to enact the law. Finally, in 2015, all new Maryland homes built after 2015 must have working fire sprinklers.
The first County to pass a law on Residential Fire Sprinklers was Prince Georges County,
Did you know that residential fire sprinklers can freeze? Avoid a bursting pipe in your home.