HOME SPRINKLERS...AN INNOVATIVE LIFE SAVER
Imagine having 24-hour fire protection in your home. Sound impractical? Maybe not. The Brunswick Fire Department says that by installing a home fire sprinkler system, you are providing a type of automatic fire protection. Heat from a fire causes the sprinkler head to spray water to extinguish it or contain it until the fire department can arrive.
Statistics show that sprinkler systems save lives and reduce fire damages by over 80 percent in some cases. Sprinklers have been used in commercial buildings for many years. The combined new technology of a quick-response sprinkler head, the reduced expense of installation, the use of plastic pipe and the ability to blend the sprinkler into the decor of a room have all helped to increase the popularity and use of home sprinkler systems. They are being included in plans for new homes, as well as being added to existing construction. Tests of these new systems show that sprinkler heads respond to fire in as little as 35 seconds. When coupled with approved smoke detectors, they provide early warning and early extinguishment.
There are some common questions concerning home sprinklers. Some people worry about their going off accidentally. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the loss records of Factory Mutual Research show that the probability of a sprinkler discharging accidentally due to a manufacturing defect is only 1 in 16,000,000 sprinklers per year in service. Some people are concerned about the cost of installation. Again, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says that with the development of the quick-response systems supplied by a home's domestic water supply, a 2,000 square foot home under construction can be protected by a system costing from $1500 to $2000. An older home can be retrofitted for about twice that amount. Also, most insurance companies offer a sizeable discount for coverage of homes with sprinkler systems.