Fire Sprinklers- Save Lives
Automatic fire sprinklers are becoming a common appearance in commercial buildings and structures, in fact the fire code in most states, requires them. It has been proven that these sprinklers have saved many lives and millions of dollars in property loss. Automatic sprinklers with a fire alarm system are a building owners greatest defense against large losses caused by fire. These sprinklers not only benefit the building owner, but also its occupants. A fire alarm system will alert them to the fire so they may begin their escape from the building, while a sprinkler system will control the fire, smoke, and spread of flame in the area of the fire's origin.
Today there is much discussion and some changes in the types of occupancies that these sprinklers are being used. With the invention of residential and fast response sprinkler heads, similar sprinkler systems that are being installed in commercial occupancies can be installed and have the same effect in residential structures.
Recently, the Town of Darien, has been experiencing heavy rebuilding of existing single family homes. The rebuilding includes enlarging of the original footprint and square footage of the original home. The old average size homes were approximately two to three thousand square feet. But the homes being built in place of these structures are now seven to ten thousand square feet in size. In this type of structure, although it is not required by code, a residential sprinkler system would benefit not only the homeowner in preventing loss of property and life, but also the local fire department.
Most homeowners would be weary of the cost of the installation and materials of these sprinkler systems, but an investigation into the price would show that it is very affordable. The cost is usually one to one and a half dollars per square footage of the home. One must also consider the cost of installing one of these systems to the cost that may be incurred due to a fire. Not only may the sprinkler system save your home, but maybe a life too. And who could put a price on a life?
More information on residential automatic sprinkler
systems can be found at:
www.sprinklernet.org
www.sprinklernet.org/sprinklerinfo
www.firesprinkler.org/hfsc
www.firesafehome.org
The Darien Fire Marshal's Office recommends that all homeowners visit
these sites and learn more about home fire sprinkler systems.
