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- Residential Fire Prevention Sprinkler
Systems
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- It is the official position of the U.S. Fire Administration
that all Americans should be protected against death, injury,
and property loss resulting from fire in their residences. All
homes should be equipped with smoke alarms and automatic fire
sprinklers, and families should prepare and practice emergency
escape plans.
U.S.F.A. - D.H.S.
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- According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
fires in residences have taken a high toll of life and property.
In 2007 there were:
- * 414,000 residential fires
* 2,895 civilian fire deaths
* 14,000 civilian fire injuries
* $7.5 billion in property damage
Source: National Fire Protection Association
Fire Loss in the U.S. 2007.
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- You protect your family with fire alarms, but how about protecting
your property, valuables and your home memories with a Residential
Fire Prevention Sprinkler system (RFPS)? It's like having a fireman
standing guard in your house 24 hours a day. While you're waiting
for your local Fire Fighters to arrive, your own home can already
be fighting any fire and limiting the damage to your property.
A properly installed RFPS system can potentially extinguish a
fire before the Fire Department even arrives.
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- If you live in a rural area, the dangers of major destruction
from a home fire are greater. Most rural areas have limited water
supply for homes and buildings that spread out over large areas.
Additionally there maybe limited access to county fire hydrants
for fire truck hook up. This requires fire fighters to bring
larger fire tankers carrying enough water to supply their efforts
to put out a fire in your home or residential buildings.
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- In a recent home fire of singer/actor Jimmy Dean in Richmond,
Virginia, Firefighters drafted water through a large hose from
the James River into tanker trucks. They then drove those tanker
trucks all the way to the blaze, and pumped water into other
fire engines. Emergency personnel could then pump that water
through other hoses onto the fire.
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- Fire marshals say you can help this process by installing
fire sprinklers inside your home, especially if it's an older
residence. The actual construction of buildings could create
obstacles too. Newer models buildings are built with fire stops
in between to prevent flames from moving any higher. But homes
built 30 to 40 years ago weren't required to have them. Leaving
a fast lane for flames.
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- New advances in sprinkler system equipment have made RFPS
systems possible and affordable. In November 1980, the NFPA adopted
the NFPA 13D Residential Sprinkler installation standard. The
standard is based on technical data from the comprehensive full-scale
fire tests, which were sponsored by the U.S. Fire Administration.
Many towns and counties are adopting this code for new residential
construction in their districts.
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- There are many benefits to having a RFPS system in your home.
Especially for families with children, senior citizens, and handicapped
members who have special fire protection needs. Firefighters
will have less risk of injury or life loss since they will be
fighting a fire of less intensity. Property damage caused by
a home fire can be limited and contained to smaller areas of
the building, protecting your valuables, memories and your costs
of repair. An RFPS can also increase the value of your home.
The largest financial benefit is a reduction of your home insurance
premiums.
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- There are many misconceptions about Fire Prevention Systems,
in part thanks to improper portrayals on TV and in movies. Here
a few misconceptions and the truth behind the myth.
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- 1. When one sprinkler goes off, all the sprinklers activate.
- Not True. Sprinklers are activated by heat. A pressure tube
inside the sprinkler explodes allowing water to flow and spread
out through the affected area. If a fire occurs in your bedroom,
only the sprinkler(s) in the area where the fire occurs will
activate.
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- 2. A sprinkler could accidentally go off, causing severe
water damage to a home.
- Not True. Records, which have been compiled for well over
50 years, prove the likelihood of this occurring is very remote.
Furthermore, home sprinklers will be specifically designed and
will be rigorously tested to minimize such accidents.
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- 3. Water damage from a sprinkler system will be more extensive
than fire damage.
- Not True. The sprinkler system will limit a fire's growth.
Therefore, damage from a home sprinkler system will be much less
severe than the smoke and fire damage if the fire had gone on
unabated or even the water damage caused by water from fire fighting
hose lines.
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- 4. Home sprinkler systems are expensive.
- Not True. Current estimates suggest that when a home is under
construction, a home sprinkler system could cost 1%-1½%
of the total building price. Upgrading an existing home depends
on square footage and the number of sprinkler heads needed to
provide adequate coverage. Installation for an existing 2,000sqft
home can range between $8-10,000. They can also be hooked up
to any domestic water supply as they do not have the same requirements
as industrial or commercial establishments.
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- 5. Residential sprinkles are ugly.
- Not True. Most people think of sprinkler heads that you see
in the movies where our hero stands on a chair or desk and holds
a lighter up to the sprinkler to set it off. These are antiquated
and many companies have designed sprinkler heads that can be
hidden, or can go with any decor.
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- 6. Any contractor can design and install a RFPS.
- Not True. Sprinkler systems might be a series of pipes but
they are nothing like the common plumbing in your home. A designer
must have a working knowledge of NFPA guidelines and local fire
codes in order to design a system that is effective and meets
code. Additionally, not just anyone can install a RFPS in any
building structure, residential or commercial. Many counties
require specific certifications and licenses for any fire prevention
system installation and subsequent inspection.
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- SprinklerTech has designed several residential sprinkler
systems for our clients. We have the knowledge and experience
to help you lay out a plan and design a system that's right for
your home and family.
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