Residential Sprinklers
Fire sprinklers have been used to protect many commercial properties for over 100 years. Properly installed and maintained system have been dramatically effective at saving lives and property in commercial properties. Newer sprinkler systems are now available for residences which offer similar benefits to any home owner.
Residential sprinklers systems are becoming more and more affordable. They increase property value and often lower insurance rates. The latest systems connect directly to standard home plumbing systems.
Individual sprinkler heads activate only in the vicinity of a fire minimizing water damage while protecting your remaining property and loved ones. We highly recommend these systems to everyone, especially those renovating, buying, or building a house.
Residential sprinkler costs continue to drop
The cost of a sprinkler system is about $1.50 per square foot in a hew home. For a 1000 square foot home this would be $1500. The cost of a sprinkler system in an existing home ranges from $2.50 to $5 per square foot depending on how difficult it is to run the pipes. This assumes the availability of adequate and reliable water supply.
Residential sprinklers differ in design from commercial sprinklers.
The sprinklers that you find in hotels, offices and other commercial buildings use larger quantities of water because fires in these types of buildings can involve large fuel loads. Residential sprinkler systems use faster acting 'heads' to allow the system to activate when the fire is still in its very early stages of development. Smaller fuel loads and quicker activation allow residential sprinklers to require less water - the typical home's domestic water supply is usually sufficient.
All sprinkler are extremely effective
As soon as a sprinkler head activates it sprays water onto the burning object and puts out or controls the fire. The sprinkler system stops the growth of the fire very early, and this in turn halts fire spread and the generation of deadly smoke.
Limited water damage
Unlike fires you watch on TV and in the movies, real fires typically activate only one or two sprinkler heads directly over a fire . Because they begin working while a fire is still in its incipient stage (small), one or two heads usually extinguish or control most fires. The damage caused by a fire that spreads will far exceed the damage done by a sprinkler. The heads that activate in residential sprinkler systems discharge water at a low rate and will not "flood" your home. After a fire, or if a head is accidentally damaged (very rare), a supply valve can quickly shut off the water. Never do this yourself after a fire ! ! ! - always call the fire department and let us determine it is safe to shut off the water.
You still need smoke detectors!
The combination of smoke detectors and sprinklers in your home greatly increase your chances of surviving a fire. Smoke detectors will be your first alert for a fire and allow you to escape quickly while your sprinkler system soon activates to control the fire. Smoke detectors can also provide warning of fires that start in areas out of range of sprinklers, such as within a wall space.