Sprinklers Save Lives

The performance record of fire sprinklers concerning life safety is unequalled. Reports have shown that there has been very few, if any fire-related deaths in any building where properly installed fire sprinklers were operating. About fifteen years ago, the town of Scottsdale, Arizona required all new homes to be fitted with sprinklers and about sixty percent of the homes in Scottsdale are now sprinkler protected. There have never been any fire-related deaths in a sprinkler protected home in Scottsdale. Injuries and property damage caused by fire have also been reduced by eighty percent.

A fire sprinkler system will protect residents from a fire even when they cannot, or will not, exit to safety. AFPC strongly encourages the use of smoke alarms and the education of the public about personal fire safety awareness that can save their lives.

Every community also needs highly skilled firefighters who are able to respond quickly to emergencies. But none of these, either individually or in combination, can come close to matching the protection of live provided by fire sprinkler systems.

In addition, Firefighters are made much safer by the buildings they have to respond to being protected by working sprinkler systems.

Regulations that affect you.

Regulations for inspections of fire-safety systems are determined by the National Fire Protecton Association. Cities and states use these regulations as a guideline, and then make appropriate amendments according to their needs.

Most inspections are required on a quarterly basis. Click the link below to download the NFPA regulations for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based fire sprinkler systems.

Required Inspections Timetable

Hollywood's Version of Sprinklers

Just about every Architect, Builder and Sprinkler Engineer we know gets a kick out of watching Bruce Willis and other Hollywood heroes as they battle through some unsuspecting office tower or warehouse, only to have a fire start up and all of the sprinklers in the room go off at once. Sure makes for wonderful special effects!

But did you know that 99% of fire sprinkler systems - especially those in office and public spaces - only sprinkle the area of the fire! In fact, properly installed sprinklers use up to 100 times less water than non-sprinkled fires where the Fire Department has to come in to douse the flames. Sprinklers put out a fire early and with as few heads as needed for the job.

Still, all of us at Alliance Fire Protection still enjoy the sprinkler scenes of Hollywood, even if the effect is a bit overstated.

Defective sprinklers still in use

By Peter Eisler, USA TODAY Mon Feb 13, 7:22 AM ET

More than four years after the government announced the recall of 35 million defective fire sprinkler heads used in nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other buildings, almost two-thirds of them remain in use.

No deaths or injuries have been tied to the recalled sprinklers. But Tyco Fire & Building Products, the sprinklers' manufacturer, says there have been several claims of property damage. Virginia, Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Washington are among the states trying to identify facilities still using the sprinklers, the National Association of State Fire Marshals reports.

"Will somebody die? If they don't get these (sprinklers) out, it'll happen, sooner or later," says Larry Glenn, deputy state fire marshal in Washington. "We've gone through nursing homes, boarding homes, assisted-living facilities, and a lot of them had (the recalled sprinklers) and weren't aware of it."

The recall began in 2001 after investigations found that a rubber 0-ring in the sprinklers' valves can corrode and prevent the release of water. That occurred in 20% to 45% of the sprinklers in lab tests.

The sprinklers were sold under three brands - Central, Star and Gem - all since purchased by Tyco. Tyco began the voluntary recall under an agreement with the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The company provides free replacement and installation.

Tyco has replaced 12 million sprinklers and identified 6 million more to be replaced by mid-2007, Tyco Vice President Carmine Schiavone says. "We'd like to find as many as possible."

Gib Mullan, head of compliance at the CPSC, says the recall is going "extremely well" and the replacement rate is better than average for such a big recall - the fourth-largest in commission history.

Many fire marshals think more can be done. Replacing 30% to 40% of the faulty sprinklers "is not acceptable," says Emory Rodgers, deputy chief of Virginia's Division of Building and Fire Regulation, which aims to get 90% of the sprinklers replaced. "People's lives could depend on it."

The 35 million faulty sprinklers equal about the number of sprinklers sold nationwide in a year, reports the National Fire Sprinkler Association, a trade group.