Fire sprinklers can be seen in many Tulsa & OKC businesses, but these fire suppression systems are not yet as common in homes. In fact, only 4.6% of occupied homes 
(including multi-unit) had sprinklers in 2009, according to the 2009 American Housing Survey. But the advantages of having residential fire sprinklers are overwhelming.
(including multi-unit) had sprinklers in 2009, according to the 2009 American Housing Survey. But the advantages of having residential fire sprinklers are overwhelming.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 85 percent of all fire deaths in the U.S. happen in the home. These fires most often occur at night when families are asleep. A fire can become deadly in as little as 3 minutes, the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition reported. This is when flashover happens – when combustible materials in the room burst into flames, making it difficult to escape. At the same time, the Coalition noted that it often takes fire departments 9 to 12 minutes to arrive after a fire has started.
But what happens in the event of a fire when a home has fire sprinklers? The sprinkler closest to the fire will activate and can often contain or even extinguish the fire before the fire department even arrives, meanwhile giving family members time to escape safely.
Home fire sprinklers have been shown to have a direct impact on saving lives and reducing fire-related injuries. In Prince George’s County in Maryland an ordinance was enacted in 1992 mandating the installation of fire sprinkler systems in new one- and two-family structures. A study of this area conducted over a 15-year period (1992-2007) showed that in homes that were not protected by fire sprinklers, there were 101 fire deaths and 328 civilian injuries. However, there were no fire deaths in sprinklered-structure fires during that period, and only six civilian injuries! Thus, home fire sprinkler systems are invaluable in saving lives.
In addition, fire sprinklers can greatly reduce the property damage caused by a fire. Although a common my
th about sprinklers is that all of the sprinklers will spray when even just one is activated, this is simply not the case. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, and that one sprinkler can often extinguish the fire before it spreads. Thus, other rooms in the home are protected from fire, heat, and smoke damage. In fact, another 15-year study of sprinklered homes in Scottsdale, AZ showed that the “average loss per sprinklered fire incident was $2,166 compared to more than $45,000 for unsprinklered homes,” the Coalition reported.
th about sprinklers is that all of the sprinklers will spray when even just one is activated, this is simply not the case. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, and that one sprinkler can often extinguish the fire before it spreads. Thus, other rooms in the home are protected from fire, heat, and smoke damage. In fact, another 15-year study of sprinklered homes in Scottsdale, AZ showed that the “average loss per sprinklered fire incident was $2,166 compared to more than $45,000 for unsprinklered homes,” the Coalition reported.
And the cost of installing fire sprinklers in your Tulsa or Oklahoma City home? According to the NFPA, the average cost of installation for home fire sprinklers is $1.35 per sprinklered square foot.
Mac Systems in Oklahoma City and Tulsa can design, install, and maintain a complete fire sprinkler system for your home or multi-dwelling unit project. Call us today to see how we can help you better protect your family with a residential fire sprinkler system.
(Photos via Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition)
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