National Fire Sprinkler Association | Benefits of Home Fire Sprinklers

Home Fire Sprinklers Protect Your Family and Property

Highlighting the Benefits of Fire Sprinklers

A woman pointing at home fire sprinklers.

Fire sprinklers offer the highest degree of fire protection and are critical in saving lives and property. While fire sprinklers save thousands of properties throughout the country in a year, they are not as common in residential buildings as they are in commercial. This is due to there being several myths surrounding fire sprinklers that have been perpetuated in television and film.

Myth #1 Do Fire Sprinklers Really React to Smoke?

Contrary to popular belief, fire sprinklers do not react to smoke. Heat will activate a fire sprinkler. For residential sprinkler heads to activate it needs to reach 155 degrees Fahrenheit.

Myth #2 Do All Fire Sprinklers React at Once?

It is a common trope in Hollywood that sprinklers all go off at once. Usually the hero, in order to set off a diversion, will activate a building’s sprinkler system and cause all the heads to activate. This plot device has perpetuated the myth that all sprinklers react when a system trips. However, in 90% of cases only one sprinkler head will activate and extinguish or contain the fire.

Fire Sprinklers in the Home

Many of the above myths have played their part in keeping the public misinformed of how home fire sprinklers operate. Not only are fire sprinklers the most proactive way of combatting home fires, but they are affordable as well; indeed, for a majority of the country, fire sprinklers are between 1-2% of the total project cost in new construction, with some coming in less than 1%, which totals out to be around the same cost as marble counter tops in a home.

For more information on home fire sprinklers, or to find a contractor in your area, visit firesprinklersbuylife.com.

Benefits of Fire Sprinklers for Business Owners

Every year fire sprinklers save numerous businesses from fire loss and damage. Recently, the NFSA has worked on Capitol Hill to provide tax reform for business owners with sprinklered properties. For more information on resources available to business owners, visit nfsa.org/taxreform/

Maintaining Fire Sprinklers

Fire sprinklers are designed to be as low maintenance as possible. NFSA contractor members offer their ITM services to both commercial and residential clients. For resources on the inspection, testing and maintenance of fire sprinklers, nfsa.org/itm. Or firesprinklersbuylife.com/upkeep

Fire Sprinkler Resources for Firefighters and Industry Professionals

Training

Whether you’re a code official or a firefighter, you’re bound to interact with fire sprinklers at some point in your career. The NFSA offers on-site as well as virtual training on fire sprinklers covering a wide array of topics. Whether it’s plans review for a proposed fire sprinkler system or how to respond to a fire involving sprinklers, the NFSA has you covered.

To learn more about training the NFSA has to offer, visit nfsa.org/training/.

NFSA Resources for Public Outreach

The NFSA knows the value of public education, which is why we offer a variety of free resources for fire departments and other professionals. The most well-known of these resources is NFSA’s side by side demonstration, which features a live burn of two rooms, one with fire sprinklers and another without.

For more information on side by side burns, or to request a demonstration in your area, visit nfsa.org/side-by-side/.

Reducing America’s Fire Losses with Residential Fire Sprinkler System (Article)
NFSA White Paper on Residential Fire Sprinklers
The Scottsdale Report
The Water Purveyors Guide
Power of Ones (International Residential Code hearing information May 22 – 25, 2007)
Same Old Lines (International Residential Code hearing information May 22 – 25, 2007)
Just the Facts about Fire Sprinklers in the IRC
Detection, Treatment and Prevention of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion in Water-Based Fire Protection Systems
Retrofit Fire Sprinkler Program – A Partial Listing
Fire Safety Tips for Elderly People
Heat Treatment for Bedbug Mitigation in Fire Sprinklered Properties

TECHNICAL DATA

Fire Sprinklers Save Lives and Money . . . The Economics of Retrofit
Municipal Contractor Licensing Information
Residential Ordinances in United States
Omega Sprinkler Issues

SPRINKLER CONTRACTOR SAFETY BULLETINS

Automatic Sprinkler System Blowback
Central’s Model GB Series Fire Sprinklers
CPVC Sprinkler Pipe & Fittings
Fire Protection for Pallet Storage
Fire Protection in Spray Booths
Fire Pumps – An Overview
Microbiological Control in Buildings After Flooding
Prevention of Freeze Ups

SPRINKLER RESOURCE TOOLBOX:

A set of resources to assist local fire and building officials counter attacks against improving community fire protection through the adoption of codes that include fire sprinklers. Right click on the title to download the report that you are interested in.

Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Guide – 2017
Home Fire Sprinkler Cost Assessment
Residential Fire Sprinklers and Housing Economics / A Legislator’s Guide to Life Safety
Residential Structure and Building Fires
U.S. Experience with Sprinklers and Other Automatic Fire Extinguishing Equipment
Residential Fire Sprinkler Activation Report
Home Structure Fires

The Scottsdale Report
The Prince Georges County Report
Water Supply Report – NFPA
The White Ribbon Report – Keeping the Lights On, The Trucks Running and the Volunteers Responding
An Old Idea With a New Technology
Cost / Benefit to Society for Having Sprinklers in One – and Two – Family Dwellings – A Pessimistic Analysis
A message from the U.S. Fire Administrator about Residential Fire Sprinklers
A message from the U.S. Fire Administrator about Residential Sprinklers

Real Estate Comparison
Construction Cost Study
Point/Counterpoint
U.S. Fire Administration Quick Response Program

Home Fire Sprinkler Systems: Separating Fact from Fiction
Position Statement: Fire Sprinklers in New Construction
Commentary on the “NAHB Recommended State & Local Amendments to the 2009 International Residential Code [IRC]”
Builders dislike cluster sprinkler mandate
N.C. home builder promotes sprinklers; firefighters’ campaign raised awareness
Residential Fire Sprinklers – A Highly Effective Safety Tool”

The Future of Fire Safety
Protect What You Value Most
“FYI SERIES”

Pamphlets dedicated to educating a variety of integral roles in fire safety:

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fire Sprinklers sAve lives & protect property

Did you Know?

FIRE SPRINKLERS ARE INDIVIDUALLY HEAT Activated

Contrary to popular belief, fire sprinklers do not react to smoke. Heat will activate a fire sprinkler. For residential sprinkler heads to activate it needs to reach 155 degrees Fahrenheit.

USUALLY ONE SPRINKLER HEAD CONTROLS THE FIRE

The above myths and others have played their part in keeping the public misinformed of how fire sprinklers operate. Not only are fire sprinklers the most proactive way of combatting home fires, but they are affordable as well; indeed, for a majority of the country, fire sprinklers are between 1-2% of the total project cost in new home construction, with some coming in less than 1%, which totals out to be around the same cost as marble counter tops in a home.

To learn about residential fire sprinklers visit: firesprinklersbuylife.com.

Benefits of Fire Sprinklers

Home Fire Sprinklers Protect Your Family and Property