Multi-purpose systems make this life-saving device affordable
(ARA) - Every 90 seconds a home fire is reported in the United States. According
to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), eight out of 10 fire fatalities
occur where Americans feel safest -- in their own homes.
Fire-escape plans, fire drills and working smoke alarms are vital safety
precautions to help ensure families escape from a burning home before they are
injured or even killed. In fact, a smoke alarm can decrease the chance of dying
in a home fire by nearly 50 percent.
And when used together with a residential fire sprinkler system, the risk
of dying in a home fire is reduced by 82 percent. Not only do they save more
lives, fire sprinkler systems -- unlike smoke alarms -- can actually control
a fire and reduce the average property loss by as much as two-thirds.
Obvious Safety Precaution
Although residential fire sprinkler systems were introduced in the 1980s,
only about 2 percent of U.S. homes are currently equipped with the life-saving
devices. So why aren't more people adopting this obvious safety precaution?
Low consumer and homebuilder awareness, a lack of qualified installers, and
installation costs are the three primary reasons why more homes do not feature
fire sprinkler systems, according to a leading manufacturer of residential fire
sprinkler systems.
"However, there is hope for renewed interest and continued growth,"
says Alan Larson, brand manager for Wirsbo Aquasafe, a multi-purpose plumbing
and fire sprinkler system.
"In areas where installing fire sprinklers in homes are mandatory,"
continues Larson, "multi-purpose systems are resolving the installer and
cost issues." Multi-purpose systems combine the fire sprinkler system with
the cold-water plumbing and cost 15 percent less than stand-alone systems. That
means one less set of pipes and faster installations.
Common Misconceptions
Larson says the most common misconception is that fire sprinkler systems
will malfunction and cause damage. He says that industry statistics indicate
that the chance of a sprinkler malfunctioning is one in 16 million.
The second most common misconception is that all the sprinklers in the home
go off at the same time -- causing extensive water damage.
"You only see that in sitcoms," Larson says. "Sprinkler heads
are individually heat-sensitive and go off independently after they reach a
specific temperature, typically around 155 degrees."
He adds that a residential fire sprinkler head uses only 10 to 15 gallons
of water per minute, whereas a single fire department hose uses up to 250 gallons
of water per minute. Typically, more than one hose is used to extinguish the
fire. In homes, 90 percent of the time, only one sprinkler head activates and
controls the fire.
The Aquasafe system is unique because it's the only non-stagnant system on
the market, says Larson. "This means that fresh water continuously circulates
throughout the tubing that feeds to the sprinkler heads and other plumbing fixtures,"
he says. "Think of the sprinkler head as just another plumbing fixture,
similar to a shower head or kitchen sink faucet. The faucet, when turned on
manually, only supplies fresh water. Similarly, the sprinkler head, when turned
on by fire, also supplies fresh water."
Hunter Botto, owner of Botto Brothers Plumbing and Heating in Long Island,
N.Y., is surprised that residential fire sprinkler systems aren't more popular
with consumers. "As a contractor, I'm in and out of a lot of homes. People
spend extra money on quality upgrades like flooring and cabinetry -- costs that
are comparable to a sprinkler system. However, if there's a fire, all those
quality upgrades become worthless."
Whether mandated or not in communities, fire sprinkler systems are wise investments
for all families, especially those with small children and seniors who would
need assistance in escaping a home fire.
To learn more about how you can protect your family and home with a residential
fire sprinkler system, contact Uponor Wirsbo at (800) 321-4739, or visit www.wirsbo.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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