Common Concerns About Fire Sprinkler Systems
Concern:
Can I afford a sprinkler system?
Answer:
We rarely hesitate when buying a
more comfortable couch, plusher carpet, the latest stereo equipment or an
upgraded computer. You can install a sprinkler system in a new home for as
little as $1.50 per square foot which, in many cases, would represent less than
1% to 1½% of the total construction cost. System installation in existing homes is more
expensive but simple. Since your family and home are the most precious part of
your life, you can't afford not to have a sprinkler system
Concern:
When a fire activates one sprinkler,
don't all sprinklers go off?
Answer:
Residential
sprinklers respond independently to a rated temperature setting of
approximately 165° F. Usually, only one sprinkler is activated to extinguish or
limit the fire to its room of origin.
Concern:
Won't a sprinkler system freeze in the
winter?
Answer:
Much like your plumbing system, your sprinkler system piping is installed on
inside walls adjacent to the ceiling framing and then insulated to entrap the
available heat lost from the living area below.
Concern:
Don't sprinkler systems cause water
damage?
Answer:
Quick response sprinklers release 13 to 24 gallons of water per minute
compared to a fire hose releasing 150-200 gallons per minute. Therefore, an
uncontrolled fire will encounter significantly greater water damage.
Concern:
Can a sprinkler head go off by
accident?
Answer:
The odds of accidental discharge due to a manufacturing defect are 1 in 16
million per year.
Concern:
Won't a sprinkler system look ugly in
my house?
Answer:
Fire damage is ugly. Quick response residential sprinkler systems are
designed to save your life by providing attractive ceiling and side mount
sprinkler heads that blend unobtrusively into your room decor. Sprinklers,
cover plates, and escutcheons can be custom painted by the manufacturer to match
any decor. Click Here
to see what a fire sprinkler system will look like after installation is
complete.
Concern:
Isn't a smoke detector enough?
Answer:
Smoke detectors will save lives by providing a much needed warning system.
However, smoke detectors do nothing to extinguish a growing fire. Too often,
battery operated smoke detectors fail to function because of dead or missing
batteries. In order for detectors to help save your life, you must provide
periodical maintenance.
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