Fire Protection Sprinklers
More than 400 Canadians a year die in home fires. A fire can engulf a room in flames in only three minutes and the very young and seniors may have difficulty making their escape. The early suppression and containment of fire has proven essential to reducing fire injuries, deaths and property loss. A fire protection sprinkler system guarantees an early and direct response to fire.
Fire protection sprinkler systems provide a level of protection that nothing else can. By the time the fire department arrives on the scene, fire sprinklers can control or even put out a fire, in most cases with just one fire sprinkler. They save lives, protect property and may even help to cut a homeowner’s insurance premiums.
How Fire Protection Sprinklers Work
The key to successful fire protection is to identify and control the fire early to prevent it from creating deadly heat and large amounts of carbon monoxide and smoke. Each fire protection sprinkler has a temperature-sensitive element that, when heated by fire, opens automatically, spraying water on the burning materials. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire opens and, depending on the intensity of the fire, activates in as little as one minute or less.
Sprinklers are linked by a network of pipes which are usually hidden within ceilings or walls, just like regular plumbing.
A fire protection sprinkler activates when the fire is still small and uses much less water than a fire department hose. Sprinklers are designed to control the fire until the fire department can arrive. In residential homes without fire protection sprinklers, about 45,000 in damage from fire and water can be caused. Compare that to damages of only about $2,500 in a home with fire protection sprinklers. This is because the sprinkler sprays water only in the immediate area of the fire and keeps the fire from spreading.
Accidental Discharge Unlikely
Manufacturing defects that cause accidental sprinkler discharge are extremely rare. The odds of that happening are 1 in 16 million. One study determined that home sprinkler mishaps are generally less likely and less severe than a standard home plumbing accident.
Sprinklers are Inconspicuous
Modern residential sprinklers are manufactured in a variety of discreet designs that can be mounted flush with walls or ceilings to blend in with your home’s décor.
Affordable Protection
Technological breakthroughs in recent years have made sprinklers more affordable and easier to install in homes. In a new construction, a home protection sprinkler system costs about 1-1.5 percent of the total cost. This averages out to an extra $40 per month on a 25-year amortized mortgage.
Installation Guidelines
Just like electrical wiring and other plumbing, a fire protection sprinkler system must meet specified standards and pass required tests and inspections before the home is approved for occupancy.
Use in Addition to Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are still an important part of your fire protection plan. They can significantly cut the risk of dying in a home fire. However, a smoke alarm does nothing to supress a fire and that’s where fire protection sprinklers in the home come in. Used in combination with smoke alarms, fire sprinklers have been proven to protect both lives and property against fire. In fact, they can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by an astonishing 80 percent.
A home fire protection sprinkler system in your home offers the highest level of safety for you and your family.
