Residential fire sprinklers: design and effectiveness

¶ … Residential Fire Sprinklers

Fire Administration data shows that the most dangerous fire damage happens at home. The residential fire sprinklers installation is in high demand in the coming years as people grow high awareness for their home safety. While this trend varies from every other community and locations regarding the sufficient information and instrument availability, the need to see the quality equipments and service is a must to meet the standard security purpose. The trend should also give another light for the economy and construction business; therefore it requires good industrial handling of the products and service. The research will examine how the trend affects all sectors in community and constructions.

As Karter (1994) and Holdgate (2001) said, "about 80% of all fire deaths occur in residential properties," which makes clear of no reason why people should delay any home sprinklers installation. There are three major parts that will determine the accomplishment of the safety and industrial goals:

1. Community awareness

People always consider safety to make their houses worth to live in. PR Newswire (2000) found from the National Fire Protection Association, that installing such equipments "reduce over 65% of death rate in private residences." However, some may consider the cost for extra installation while others still rely on smoke detectors that practically do nothing to extinguish the fire. Koski (2000) also mention the ignorance of homebuilders for the existing systems.

2. Contractors and other service providers

Ballanco and Smith (2002) illustrate different systems contractors had been using in installing the pipes to suit the cost and materials used. Contractors need to set a plan on their cost and bid placement that they will be able to know the type of the building and follow the best plan to use per square foot price or per sprinkler price. This will allow them to give the best installation for the house and meet their expenses.

3. The Fire Department

The Fire Department was the one giving persistent influence to home sprinklers. Koski (2000) explained that it "cuts the demand for fire department service to one half." This is simply because preventing the fire is always better than waiting for them break in the house to save lives. However, educating homeowners is simply not enough. A legal regulation will give a good standard of building construction as well as protect consumers for the particular service provider to give them what they need. Mader (2001) shows the collaboration among fire marshals, fire companies, building and zoning department, in the whole process. Once the ordinance is passed, there will be careful site planning to do, to give the good protection for the whole community.

The U.S. Fire Administration has identified that "in 1996, the loss of home fire had claimed 5000 lives, injured over 25000 people and caused damage to over 9 billion dollars property." Then they announced that according to NFPA, about "57% fire deaths per 1000 fires was reduced in home with sprinklers from 1983 to 1992." Dewar (2001) predicts it will reduce about 87% fire deaths (and property loss) with the advancement in technology.