Q: Why would I install fire sprinklers in my home, aren’t they just for businesses?

A: Home fire sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene.

Nationwide, more than 4,000 people die in fires each year. Fire sprinklers save lives, reduce property loss and can even help cut homeowner insurance premiums.

Installing both smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system reduces the risk of death in a home fire by 82%, relative to having neither.

Q: How much should I expect to pay for a home sprinkler system?

A: In colder climates, if installed during new home construction, home fire sprinklers cost an average of $3.22 per square foot of sprinklered space, which is about what you’d pay for an upgrade in carpeting. The investment in your family’s fire protection may be slightly lower or higher, depending on the location and complexity of the home.

Q: How long should installation take? Can other construction work go on while sprinklers are being installed?

A: Fire sprinkler installations are like electricity, plumbing or any other operational system in your home. The total time involved will depend on the size and complexity of your home.

Certain portions of the system (i.e. water piping) are more easily and cost-effectively installed in the earliest stages of construction, while the actual finish (i.e. installing the fire sprinkler devices, testing the system, etc.) will take place after the house is framed. Fire sprinkler systems are often completed prior to the other systems in your home, but other mechanical trades may work alongside the sprinkler contractor if necessary.

Q: How do I take care of my fire sprinkler system?

A: A residential fire sprinkler system is basically maintenance free. The only testing required on a regular basis is opening the drain/test valve to check the alarm operation. The rest of the system is designed to operate properly for 20 years or more without any maintenance.

Some basic precautions to safeguard your fire sprinkler system are:

• Avoid painting or otherwise covering the fire sprinkler devices, as that will affect their sensitivity to heat.
• Do not hang decorations, plants or other objects from the sprinkler or piping.

Q: What if my home cannot be connected to a public water supply?

A: Homes can be protected by automatic fire sprinklers in even the most remote areas. Several manufacturers offer self-contained water tanks to supply residential fire sprinkler systems. These tanks are designed to fit in your garage or another storage area of the home, and they hold enough water to comply with the National Fire Protection Association Standard 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes.

Q: Will my insurance premiums go up?

A: No. Generally insurance rates will go down because fire sprinklers will keep damage low. Shop around; the savings vary by insurance company.

Q: What if the fire is only in one room, won’t a fire sprinkler system cause damage to the rest of my house?

A: Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire. Ninety percent of fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler.

Waiting for the Fire Department will cause more water damage fire hoses, on average, use eight-and-a-half more water than sprinklers do to contain a fire.

According to the Scottsdale Report, a 15-year study of fire sprinkler effectiveness, a fire sprinkler uses, on average, 341 gallons of water to control a fire. Firefighters, on average, use 2,935. Reduced water damage is a major source of savings for homeowners.

Q: Is there a place to find more information about fire sprinklers in the home?

A: Excel Fire protection is here to answer all your questions about protecting your family with a fire sprinkler system.

We also recommend visiting the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition for more videos and tips on how to finance your home sprinkler system during the building process. (http://www.homefiresprinkler.org/)