Department of Fire and Rescue

Residential Sprinklers Save Lives

A fire occurs in a residential structure about every 80 seconds taking a considerable toll on life and property. Through public education fire and rescue personnel can suggest ways to protect yourself and your family against death injury and property damage resulting from a residential fire. Some examples include installation of smoke alarms and emergency preparation/escape planning. Residential sprinklers introduced in the1980s are an additional means to protect your family and home should a fire occur.

It is recommended that all homes should be equipped with smoke alarms and automatic fire sprinklers. Within the past few decades millions of Americans have installed smoke alarms in their homes. Although this is a significant life-safety initiative working smoke alarms only alert occupants regarding a fire in the home -- they can not contain or extinguish a fire. Whereas sprinklers provide 'built in protection' by reducing a fire’s heat flames and smoke providing residents valuable time to exit safely.

Through extensive and successful research performed by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) the use of residential sprinklers has diminished initial concerns regarding cost reaction and reliability. These life-saving systems have gained increasing acceptance as demonstrated by their quick and effective response in the presence of a fire. Sprinklers installed in the home is equivalent to having your own individual firefighters. Sprinklers save lives!

DID YOU KNOW?

Home fire deaths are reduced by 80% when sprinklers and working smoke alarms are both present.
Sprinklers reduce property loss by 70%.
85% of fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler.
Research shows that when sprinklers were present during a fire, the fire is kept to the room of origin 97% of the time.
Sprinklers are designed and calibrated to activate when sensing a significant heat increase.
Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate spraying water directly on the fire.
Sprinklers use a fraction of the water used by fire department hoses.
Sprinklers can save homeowners between 5% - 15% on their insurance.
In new homes under construction sprinklers cost about 1 - 1.5% of the total building cost.
Modern sprinklers are designed to fit flush with walls and ceilings to blend in with most any decor