Over 80% of fire deaths occur in the home. Home fire sprinklers can save lives and property from fire. They respond quickly and effectively to fire, often extinguishing the fire before the fire department arrives. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water on the fire.

If you are building a new home, consider installing home fire sprinklers. Watch these short informational videos.

You may have seen movies where all the sprinklers flowed water at once. In real life, they don’t work that way. Smoke alarms cannot cause sprinklers to activate – neither can smoke, cooking vapors or steam.

Each sprinkler has its own temperature-sensitive part. This holds back the water. If a fire starts, the high heat from it causes that part to break open. The sprinkler closest to the fire will open when the temperature reaches between 135°-165°F (57°-74°C). Water will flow from the sprinkler. In the vast majority of fires in sprinklered homes, just one sprinkler operates. The sprinkler controls the fire.

• More than 2,500 people die in home fires each year.
• If a home fire occurs, the risk of dying decreases by about 80% when the home is equipped with a fire sprinkler system.
• Home fire sprinklers save lives and property. In many situations, a family who has survived a fire will also have their “home” to live in and enough of the items and space in their home to continue living their lives as they did before.
• The cost of a home fire sprinkler system in a new home averages between $1.35 – $3.50 per sprinklered square foot totaling an amount similar to what is spent for carpet upgrades, paving stone driveway or a whirlpool bath.
  Source: Fire Protection Research Foundation Study 2013.
• A home fire sprinkler system can reduce the homeowner’s insurance premium.
• Fire departments typically use roughly 10 times as much water as a fire sprinkler would use to contain a fire.
  Source: Fire Protection Research Foundation Study 2010.
• Fire sprinklers are environmentally friendly. They can reduce the amount of water run-off and pollution, fire damage by up to 71%, and water usage to fight a home fire by as much as 91%.
  Source: FM Global and Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Study 2010.
• Cigar smoke or burnt toast will not activate a fire sprinkler. Only the high temperature of a fire will activate the sprinkler.
• A home fire sprinkler system is easy to maintain. Just inspect your home to make sure the sprinklers are not blocked by something that would prevent the water from coming out such as paint and be sure the main control valve is never turned off.
• Home fire sprinklers are effective in cold and warm climates. Guidelines have been created for the proper installation of systems to avoid pipes freezing. A home fire sprinkler system should be winterized the same as you winterize a domestic water supply.