Sprinklers Provide Best Chance for Surviving a House Fire

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 by: ARA Content

(ARA) - Although it's impossible to put a dollar value on
a human life -- especially the life of a loved one -- the reality is
that the decision to purchase many life-saving products often comes
down to cost.

For the amount of money it would cost to upgrade your
choice of carpeting in your new home, you could protect your family and
possibly even your home from a fire. Think you can do without the added
protection in your home? You might want to rethink the option.

According to the National Fire Protection Association,
nearly 5,000 people die each year in the U.S. because of fires -- an
average of 14 per day. In addition, more than 28,000 people are injured
in fires each year -- 70 percent of them in private homes. Those most
at risk include children, the handicapped and the elderly. In addition
to the loss of life, every year fires cause $8.5 billion in property
damage.

Smoke detectors are an excellent start. Yet, they only
give warning of a fire; they do nothing to extinguish it. Fire
professionals confirm that how a fire is addressed within the first
four minutes can mean the difference between life and death. In an
unprotected environment, just four minutes after a fire has erupted, it
is out of control. But in a home protected by a fire sprinkler system,
the fire can be contained and controlled immediately to dramatically
reduce personal injury from both the fire itself, as well as the
resulting toxic fumes.

When used in combination, smoke detectors and sprinklers
can reduce the loss of life up to 98.5 percent -- an increase of 48.5
percent over smoke detectors alone. Given such strong evidence, why
aren't more new homes being equipped with a fire sprinkler system?

One reason may be lack of awareness. Residential fire
sprinkler systems are not top-of-mind for most consumers who are faced
with a myriad of product choices for their new homes. Builders are
quick to discuss the choice of faucets, fixtures and windows, but often
don't address the benefits or added costs of home security and safety
systems.

Second is the perception that fire sprinklers are
expensive. In reality, home fire sprinkler systems are often as cost
efficient as a cabinet or carpeting upgrade. Nationally, the expense
averages 1 percent to 1.5 percent of the total building cost when they
are installed during new home construction, which is the easiest and
least expensive time for installation. Sprinklers can, however, be
retrofitted into existing homes.

A third problem is that older sprinkler heads were ugly.
However, modern fire sprinkler fixtures are inconspicuous, since they
are mounted flush with walls and ceilings. Some sprinklers can even be
concealed. And, of course, like regular plumbing, pipes are always
hidden behind the ceiling or walls.

Another misperception is that sprinklers might go off
accidentally and cause tremendous water damage. In reality, the odds
are approximately 1 in 16 million that a fire sprinkler will go off
unnecessarily. And, contrary to popular belief, only a real fire -- not
just cigarette smoke -- will activate a fire prevention system. If a
fire breaks out, a fire sprinkler will control a fire with a fraction
of the water used by fire fighters. This is because a sprinkler
activates during the early stages of a fire and only in the immediate
area of the fire -- usually with just one sprinkler operating to avoid
widespread water damage.

Once you've made the decision to invest in a
life-saving fire sprinkler system, be aware that not all systems offer
the same level of reliability and cost effectiveness. CPVC
(post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride), which has proven superior for
many general plumbing applications, is also becoming the material of
choice for residential and commercial fire sprinkler systems.
BlazeMaster fire sprinkler systems are an example of a CPVC system that
is designed to have a 50-year life expectancy, with a safety factor of
two. Although less expensive than metal systems, BlazeMaster CPVC fire
sprinkler systems are more durable. Unlike steel systems, CPVC systems
can be fabricated on site, so any blueprint changes can be accommodated
immediately.

To learn more about options for protecting your family
and your home from a fire, visit www.blazemaster.com or contact your
local fire sprinkler contractor.

About the Author

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

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