Home Fire Sprinkler Mythbusters Overcoming Barriers Oregon Fire Sprinkler Coalition

Myth – Smoke Alarms Alone are Enough   While Smoke Alarms are a proven life-saving fire protection device, they serve as a notification of smoke, and can do nothing to remove or reduce the heat or smoke.

Smoke Alarm Trends in Fatal Fires Smoke Alarm Trends in Fatal Fires Sources: NFPA; UFSA; Public/Private Fire Safety Council 40% of fire deaths in homes each year occur in homes with working smoke alarms. This is trending in the wrong direction!

Vulnerable Populations Source: NFPA Children   Children under the age of 5 are 1 ½ times more likely to die in a home fire as the general public   Babies cannot self-evacuate   Young children often hide during fires or need assistance   Children may sleep through a sounding smoke alarm   Children have reduced reaction times

Vulnerable Populations Source: NFPA Older Adults   The elderly are nearly 3 times more likely to die in a home fire as the general public   Older adults may suffer from reduced sensory abilities such as smell, touch, vision, and hearing   Inability to smell smoke   Inability to feel if something is hot   Inability to see fires or notice fire causes   Inability to hear smoke alarms or fire sounds   Older adults may suffer from disabilities   Older adults have reduced reaction times

Myth – If My Smoke Alarm has a false activation, the Sprinklers will Activate   Fire sprinklers and Smoke alarms have different operating principles   Smoke Alarms respond to particles in the air   Sprinklers rely on heat to activate   Cigars, cigarettes, etc will not activate sprinklers!

Myth – If My Smoke Alarm has a false activation, the Sprinklers will Activate   Fire sprinklers and smoke alarms are not connected operationaly, except in rare, specialty system types   Pre-action   Deluge

Myth - New Homes are Safer   Modern homes have two things that older homes don’t have:   Lightweight Construction   Modern fuel loads

Myth - New Homes are Safer The Facts – Lightweight Construction Myth - New Homes are Safer The Facts – Lightweight Construction Firefighter Safety Hazards   Lightweight Construction   Began to appear 25 years ago   Vulnerable to fire conditions   Times to reach structural failure percent shorter Sources: UL Tests, NFPA Fire Sprinkler Initiative

Myth - New Homes are Safer Furnishings & Fuel Loads Heat Release Rates (HRR) (Btu/sec) –Small wastebasket –TV set –Cotton mattress –Polyurethane mattress ( %) –Cotton easy chair –Polyurethane easy chair ( %) –Polyurethane sofa 2960 –Armchair (modern) –Recliner(synthetic padding/covering) –Christmas tree, dry –Pool of gasoline (2 quarts on concrete) 949 –Living room or bedroom fully involved Source: NFPA 921; Kirk’s Fire Investigation

1970s vs. Current Fuel Loads 1970s vs. Current Fuel Loads Source: UL

Myth - New Homes are Safer   Most residential fire deaths result from fire caused directly or indirectly by people, and aren’t related to the home’s age   While older homes (+40 years) are more vulnerable to fire due to older wiring, there are new risks: Modern fuels and lightweight construction.   Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths   Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires Source: USFA / NFPA

Myth – If fire deaths have declined over the years in the US, we have less of a need to have active protection.   Home fire deaths have declined since 1977, but a 2500 per year average has been occurring consistently since the late 1990’s Source: NFPA Annual fire Loss Report 2013 / USFA

Myth – Home Fire Sprinklers Leak   A residential sprinkler system is not any more likely to leak than fixtures in a plumbing system Source: NFPA US Experience with Sprinklers 2013 And…most contractors warranty their work!

Myth – When One Head Activates, They All Activate   This is a myth that is sometimes perpetuated by Hollywood…   Sprinklers are each independently heat- sensitive. They activate separately!   Commonly, only a single sprinkler will activate in a home fire.

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Require A Lot of Maintenance   The Maintenance Standard, NFPA 25, excludes One & Two Family Dwellings   13D maintenance requirements are simple:   Walk the sprinklers periodically (no specific time requirement) to look for:   Obstructions to discharge (storage, etc)   Painted or damaged heads Source: NFPA

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Require A Lot of Maintenance Industry-standard insulation installation and pipe routing techniques can eliminate freeze protection issues. Source: NFPA

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Require A Lot of Maintenance   Seasonal Home?   Vacation home?   Unheated Home?   Dry System Source: NFPA

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Use A Lot of Water   The Scottsdale Report revealed that a typical sprinkler activation in a home uses an average of 341 gallons of water, compared to an average fire department suppression amount of 2,935 gallons. Source: HFSC

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Use A Lot of Water   -13D allows for a design using the same water demand of the domestic system   The fire sprinkler demand and the domestic system demand do not need to be added together; they can be concurrent Source: NFPA 13D

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Activations Result in Extensive Water Damage Sprinklers vs. Firefighting –Water usage was reduced between 50% and 92% in a 2010 FM global Study Source: FM Global

Myth – Sprinklers Can Activate Accidentally   Factory Mutual loss records indicate that only One in 16,000,000 sprinklers will accidentally discharge due to a manufacturer malfunction Source: FM Global

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Water Supplies Require Expensive Meter Upgrades   Water Meters   5/8”   Rated for 20 gpm max.   Recommend staying within rating, but tests have shown meter will not fail with excess flow   3/4”   Rated at 35 gpm   Should work for most systems  Requirement for Fire Protection Listing?  No Source: Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Water Supplies Require Expensive Meter Upgrades   A typical system can be designed using a ¾”” Meter (35 GPM)   Some systems can use a single sprinkler design, with 18 GPM flowing Source: NFPA 13D

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Water Supplies Require Expensive Meter Upgrades   Residential Fire Sprinklers only require 7 PSI to operate   Plumbing fixture typically require 8 PSI minimum. Source: ICC / UPC

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Require a Backflow Preventer   Is not required by National plumbing codes and OPSC unless:   Materials are used that are not approved for potable water systems   There is a fire department connection   Chemicals are added to the fire protection system (i.e.: antifreeze, corrosion inhibitors, etc.) Sources: OPSC; NFPA 13D; ORSC; ORS Unnecessary mechanical devices require costly maintenance and have the potential to fail

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Require a Backflow Preventer  Is not required by NFPA 13D  Is not required by ORSC AT2904  Is not required by ORS (4) on multi-purpose fire suppression systems constructed of potable water piping and materials Sources: OPSC; NFPA 13D; ORSC; ORS Unnecessary mechanical devices require costly maintenance and have the potential to fail

Myth – Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Require a Backflow Preventer   Where requested by local AHJ, there may be other options   -Flow-through (passive purge) An example: Sources: NFPA 13D, PNW-AWWA Unnecessary mechanical devices require costly maintenance and have the potential to fail

Myth – Residential Fire Sprinklers are Unattractive   There are many cutting-edge, flush type heads that blend into the ceiling.   Some manufacturers offer as many as 300 custom paint colors.

Myth – Sprinklers are Too Expensive Nationally - $1.35 per sq. ft. of living area – –Lowest $0.74 in San Clemente CA Locally - $1.70 per sq. ft. of living area Source: NFPA

Myth – Sprinklers are Too Expensive Solutions to Reducing Cost   Example - Partnership with Medford Water Commission   ¾” water meters at standard 5/8” meter SDC’s   Encourage Design to Eliminate Backflow   Multipurpose or flow through systems   Insurance Companies   Typical 5-15% reduction in homeowner’s insurance Source: NFPA

Myth – Sprinklers are Too Expensive Conclusion 1 : “Basically, for the price of a Happy Meal or a Starbuck’s coffee (a month), your family can be protected by a residential sprinkler system,” Fred Benn, President of Advanced Automatic Sprinkler Company in Hayward, CA Source: 1. Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Expected Increase in 30-year Mortgage   $5-10 month after interest deduction and insurance savings Comparable Costs   Many people pay similar costs for such amenities as:   Upgrading carpet   Upgrading cabinets   Upgrading countertops   Upgrading driveways

Myth – Sprinklers are Too Expensive   Potential cost savings for developers.   Tradeoffs   Access   Structure proximity to Fire Dep. Apparatus   Road width options / limitations   Increase road grade   Fire Department turnarounds   Additional access roads   Water Supply   Structure proximity to Fire Hydrants   Firefighting water supply   Rural fire fighting water supply Source: NFPA

Myth – Sprinkler Requirements Will Slow Down a Housing Market Sources: NFPA; NAHB Impact on Housing Supply and Costs   A 2009 study found no evidence that the “enactment of of sprinkler ordinances caused any detrimental effects on housing supply and costs”   Statistics on the website of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) show single-family home building permits increased on average by 28 percent in the United States between April 2012 and April 2013, but California experienced a 55 percent increase in permits in the same period

Myth – My Insurance Rates Will Increase If I Have Sprinklers   Nationally, on average, you not only don’t get penalized, you get rewarded.   Most insurance companies offer a premium discount for having a fire sprinkler system in the home. Sources: 2008 FPRF

Myth – My Insurance Rates Will Increase If I Have Sprinklers   ISO, an advisory organization that serves the property/casualty insurance industry, recommends an 8% credit for the installation of a residential sprinkler system Sources: 2008 FPRF / NFPA

Myth – My Insurance Rates Will Increase If I Have Sprinklers   ISO also advises ‘leak’ protection (FPRF 2008)   This means you receive a discount, as well as coverage for any accidental water discharge, and;   Coverage for damage due to fire-related system activation Sources: 2008 FPRF / NFPA

Questions?