Residential Fire Residential Fire SprinklersSprinklers

What is the leading What is the leading cause of fire?cause of fire?

MenMen WomenWomen ChildrenChildren

Will we stop responding to Will we stop responding to incidents?incidents?

Not likely!Not likely!

Do you know these Do you know these children?children?

Jordan Tinsley Jordan Tinsley Age 9 Age 9

John TinsleyJohn Tinsley Age 7 Age 7

Benjamin TinsleyBenjamin Tinsley Age 6 Age 6

Died early morning Died early morning June 25, 2007, from June 25, 2007, from

a house fire near a house fire near Texarkana, Texas.Texarkana, Texas.

2007 Year-to-Date Multiple 2007 Year-to-Date Multiple Fatality Fire DeathsFatality Fire Deaths

FiresFires113113

DeathsDeaths 431431

AdultsAdults 197197

ChildrenChildren 234234

Fire Death and Injuries in Fire Death and Injuries in One- & Two-family Dwellings* One- & Two-family Dwellings*

(Percentage of Residential)(Percentage of Residential)

Fire deaths:Fire deaths: 83%83% Fire injuries:Fire injuries: 74%74% Fire property damage:Fire property damage: 83%83% Fireground firefighter deaths:Fireground firefighter deaths: 70%70%

*2004 NFPA*2004 NFPA

More Fire FactsMore Fire Facts Young children, older adults, and physically and Young children, older adults, and physically and mentally challenged people face the highest risk of mentally challenged people face the highest risk of

injury or death in residential fires.injury or death in residential fires.

Too often, people fail to respond appropriately to Too often, people fail to respond appropriately to

the sound of a smoke detector, because they the sound of a smoke detector, because they assume it is a false alarm. Rather that exiting the assume it is a false alarm. Rather that exiting the building, they search to confirm the existence of a building, they search to confirm the existence of a fire, wasting the few precious minutes they may fire, wasting the few precious minutes they may have to escape.have to escape.

Unlike what TV and movies show, only when Unlike what TV and movies show, only when sufficient heat is present will a sprinklersufficient heat is present will a sprinkler

discharge water.discharge water.

How safe are you?How safe are you?

80% of all fires start in the home. While most start during the 80% of all fires start in the home. While most start during the day, most fatal fires occur at nightday, most fatal fires occur at night

Americans suffer an unwanted fire every 10 secondsAmericans suffer an unwanted fire every 10 seconds

Every 74 seconds a fire is of enough magnitude to call the Fire Every 74 seconds a fire is of enough magnitude to call the Fire Dept.Dept.

More than 3,000 people died in fires in 2005.More than 3,000 people died in fires in 2005.

19,300 people are injured in home fires each year19,300 people are injured in home fires each year

There is a 1 in 200 chance of fire in your home during your There is a 1 in 200 chance of fire in your home during your lifetimelifetime

How does time affect the Fire How does time affect the Fire Department’s ability to deliver Department’s ability to deliver

service?service?

Detection Set Up

Reactionand

ResponseTime

Receipt ofAlarm andDispatch

Reportof

Alarm

Not Directly Manageable by theFire Department

Manageable byFire Department

Inceptionof

Emergency

Applicationof

ExtinguishingAgent

How does a home fire sprinklers’ discharge compare to a fire hose

attack line discharge? A residential low flow pendant sprinkler

head delivers approximately 13 to 18 gallons per minute of water

A fire hose attack line delivers 200 gallons per minute (this does not include a backup line which would double the flow of water)

Sprinkler systems represent a choice, a little water when the fire starts or a lot of water when the fire department arrives

NFPA 13D Sprinkler systems One / Two Family Dwellings

Average water usage for sprinklered home - 341 gallons

Average water usage for unsprinklered home 2935 gallons

Average repair costs for sprinklered home $2,166 dollars

Average repair costs for unsprinklered home $45,019 dollars

With both smoke detection and sprinklers, death, injury by fire is reduced by 82%

NFPA 13 SystemsNFPA 13 Systems NFPA 13 systems are for commercial occupanciesNFPA 13 systems are for commercial occupancies

Designed primarily for property conservation Designed primarily for property conservation

The average sprinkler head discharges 25 to 35 gallons per minuteThe average sprinkler head discharges 25 to 35 gallons per minute

Sprinkler heads are located “everywhere” – attics, basements, crawl Sprinkler heads are located “everywhere” – attics, basements, crawl spaces, closets and concealed spacesspaces, closets and concealed spaces

Systems are designed for the flow of multiple heads (12-15 on Systems are designed for the flow of multiple heads (12-15 on average)average)

Life safety is a byproduct of the systemLife safety is a byproduct of the system

NFPA 13D systemsNFPA 13D systems Are designed for 1 and 2 family dwellingsAre designed for 1 and 2 family dwellings

Designed primarily for life safety only but will contain or frequently Designed primarily for life safety only but will contain or frequently extinguish the fireextinguish the fire

The average sprinkler head discharges 13 to 18 gallons per minuteThe average sprinkler head discharges 13 to 18 gallons per minute

Sprinkler heads are located in paths of egress only – bedrooms, Sprinkler heads are located in paths of egress only – bedrooms, hallways, kitchens, dining rooms and laundry rooms - none in attics, hallways, kitchens, dining rooms and laundry rooms - none in attics, crawl spaces, closets (size dependent) or bathrooms (size crawl spaces, closets (size dependent) or bathrooms (size dependent)dependent)

This coverage provides fire protection from 83% of all areas fire This coverage provides fire protection from 83% of all areas fire originatesoriginates

Systems are designed for the flow of 1 to 2 sprinkler headsSystems are designed for the flow of 1 to 2 sprinkler heads

Types of SprinklersTypes of Sprinklers

ResidentialCommercial

Where is the sprinkler?Where is the sprinkler?

Multipurpose SystemsMultipurpose Systems

Part of the cold water loop in the Part of the cold water loop in the house.house.

Reduces the chance of freezing.Reduces the chance of freezing. Placing back into service after Placing back into service after

activation ensures repair.activation ensures repair. No additional backflow prevention.No additional backflow prevention.

Are Sprinkler Systems Are Sprinkler Systems Effective?Effective?

““Green Effect”Green Effect”

Reduces the amount of water Reduces the amount of water needed to extinguish a fire.needed to extinguish a fire.

Smoke production is minimalSmoke production is minimal Natural resources such as lumber is Natural resources such as lumber is

not needed to rebuild the homenot needed to rebuild the home

Myths & FactsMyths & FactsMyth: Sprinkler heads activate accidentallyMyth: Sprinkler heads activate accidentallyFact: 1 in 16,000,000 chance of accidental activationFact: 1 in 16,000,000 chance of accidental activation

Myth: All sprinklers go offMyth: All sprinklers go offFact: Sprinklers react to heat, only those exposed Fact: Sprinklers react to heat, only those exposed

will will activateactivate

Myth: Sprinkler heads will leakMyth: Sprinkler heads will leakFact: Operate at the same water pressure as your Fact: Operate at the same water pressure as your

plumbing but plumbing but tested 2-3 times higher at tested 2-3 times higher at installationinstallation

Myth: Sprinklers are unsightlyMyth: Sprinklers are unsightlyFact: Sprinklers can be recessed into the ceilingFact: Sprinklers can be recessed into the ceiling

Myths & FactsMyths & Facts

Myth: Too expensiveMyth: Too expensiveFact: Approx. 1%-2% of the home’s costFact: Approx. 1%-2% of the home’s cost

Myth: They cause water damageMyth: They cause water damageFact: Damage is substantially less than damage Fact: Damage is substantially less than damage

caused by the fire caused by the fire department if sprinklers department if sprinklers are not present.are not present.

Myth: Residential fire sprinklers don’t save livesMyth: Residential fire sprinklers don’t save livesFact:Fact: There has not been a fatality in a home with There has not been a fatality in a home with

residential fire residential fire sprinklers in Napa, CA or Cobb sprinklers in Napa, CA or Cobb County, GA. Scottsdale, County, GA. Scottsdale, AZ credits sprinklers AZ credits sprinklers for saving 52 lives since 1985 when an for saving 52 lives since 1985 when an ordinance was enacted. ordinance was enacted.

UpdateUpdate Residential Sprinkler CommitteeResidential Sprinkler Committee

1.1. NC Fire Marshals AssocNC Fire Marshals Assoc2.2. NC State Firemen’s AssociationNC State Firemen’s Association3.3. NC Association of Fire ChiefsNC Association of Fire Chiefs4.4. NC County Fire Marshals AssociationNC County Fire Marshals Association5.5. NC IAAI NC IAAI 6.6. NC Building Inspectors AssociationNC Building Inspectors Association

NC Home Sprinkler Alliance – NC Home Sprinkler Alliance – Educational ComponentEducational Component

Working to create a new limited license Working to create a new limited license for plumbers to install and design for plumbers to install and design residential systems.residential systems.

Questions?Questions?