Residential Sprinkler Talking Points
For every meeting, every training session, take 5 minutes to educate and learn.
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The United States has one of the highest fire death rates with nearly 30 deaths per million
persons, while other industrialized nations are half that.
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The US News media has reported 57 civilian fire fatalities in residential structures in New York
State between 1/1/15 and 10/1/15.
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New York State has been rated as one of five more severe states for residential fire fatalities.
Residential construction and content compositions have changed radically over the last 20
years. Hardwood construction and nails to form joints has given way to lightweight construction
and glue to form joints which fail quicker in a fire.
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While new lightweight construction methods meet the required strength and engineering
standards, that all changes when attacked by fire; engineered systems fail much more quickly,
imperiling occupants and firefighters.
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Residential contents have moved away from natural products to synthetics such as
polypropylene and polyethylene. This results in fires that release greater heat levels more
quickly causing lightweight systems to fail more quickly after being exposed to fire. This also
causes flashover to occur earlier imperiling occupants and firefighters.
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Smoke alarms do not protect those who cannot easily escape without assistance, such as the
elderly, children, the disabled and the intoxicated. Even when homes are equipped with smoke
alarms they may be disconnected, disabled or inoperative according to statistics.
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Residential sprinkler systems are designed to protect the occupants during their egress or
confine the fire to the room of origin, limiting fire spread and reducing the probability of
flashover.
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In tests, the convective heat in a room dropped from 12,000 Btu/min in 20 seconds after a
residential sprinkler head activated in a small compartment fire. There was also a drop in gas
temperature from 450° F to 100° F in three minutes of sprinkler operation. (Flashover is the
product of combustible gas and heat.)
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The main toxic hazards during a residential fire are carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide,
deficient oxygen levels, and hydrogen chloride according to scientific studies, when you
eliminate their development by sprinklers you reduce the risk of death from fire.
The volume of the production of these toxic gases decreases upon activation of the sprinkler
head, thus smoke will fill the room less.
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While ventilation by response personnel will reduce generated gases, and may briefly improve
air quality but it will also likely increase rapid heat release rates and intensify the fire.
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Sprinkler activation reduces the generation of toxic gases and decreases heat release during a
fire.
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With today’s synthetic materials, flashover can occur prior to the fire department being called, it
is often reported by callers as a muffled explosion followed by a high volume of flame and
products of combustion, the same moment when a fire is usually discovered and reported by
non-occupants.
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Flashover normally ends the search and rescue efforts by firefighters as an unprotected person
cannot survive post-flashover conditions.
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Flashover occurs when all available fuels become involved and the fire is burning at its maximum
potential. This is accomplished by temperatures between 700° and 1,200° F. Life is not
sustainable at these temperatures.

Flashover will cause the failure of the heavy personal protective equipment worn by firefighters
within seconds.
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The furnishings to today’s home burn 80% faster than legacy materials present most of us grew
up with.

As newer structures become more energy efficient and tighter, the heat from fires is being
better contained, increasing the risk of flashover occurring quicker.
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Residential sprinklers are generally designed to protect an area no larger than 12X12 and use
between 18 to 20 gallons per minute when opened by fire with an average of 26gpm during an
event.
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Residential sprinklers are designed to operate for up to 10 minutes.
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Less water used means less impact on the water system and less water damage.
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A single fire department hose stream is a minimum of 150 gallons per minute.
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Fatal fires typically originate in bedrooms, kitchens or living rooms and their causes are typically
food on the stove, smoking, electrical malfunctions or misuse of heating devices. Installing
sprinklers in these rooms alone could provide an increased level of protection above having no
system installed.
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Studies indicate that the death rate in the United State could be lowered 80% with the use of
residential sprinklers.
Data suggests that a 80% reduction in fire deaths and 95% reduction in injuries can be
accomplished where residential sprinklers have extinguished or controlled fires while giving and
internal alarm.
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Homes equipped with both smoke alarms and fire sprinklers experienced 100% fewer civilian
fatalities, 57% fewer injuries and 32% less property loss when compared to homes equipped
with only smoke detectors.
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Sprinkler systems and smoke detector combinations are of more value and offer greater
protection to older and less mobile populations. This will be paramount in the future and the
size of the older population increases.
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All new homes, will become old homes.
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Between 2004 and 2008 rural fire deaths were twice the national average, likely due to lack of
working smoke alarms, insufficient volunteer staffing, equipment and training, and prevention
programs in the fire service.
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In the Scottsdale, Arizona study, sprinklers were around $1.14 per square foot when the
residential sprinkler ordinance was first enacted, however the price is now .59 cents per square
foot due to market competition.
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In sprinklered residential occupancies only one or two sprinkler heads will be necessary to
extinguish a fire.
Accidental activations due to manufacturing defects in sprinkler heads occurred in only
1:16,000,000 heads.
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Homeowners with comprehensive sprinkler coverage see an average reduction of 8% in
insurance premiums.
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Studies indicate that housing development is not impeded by fire sprinkler requirements as
proven by statics from those areas that have adopted residential sprinkler ordinances.
Researchers (2003) assign a value of life to be between 2.6million and 4.7 million which is a
mean average of 3.8 million.
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Where government involvement by mandating residential sprinkler systems can reduce the
overall cost of installation through market competition. Costs lowered by market completion
would ultimately increase the present value of every home.
When a fire sprinkler system is supplied by a water distribution system, water meter size is
based on the required pressure and flow, which may actually be greater for standard plumbing
fixtures than for fire sprinklers. Fire sprinklers won’t lead to increased meter or tap fees when
the sprinkler system is able to be supplied by the same size meter that serves household
plumbing. A typical 5/8-inch meter will flow up to 20 gpm, which is adequate to operate a fire
sprinkler system in many homes. A 3/4-inch meter, which will flow well over 30 gpm, is capable
of handling just about any home fire sprinkler system.
On a rural well supply, if the water distribution system or well provides enough water to supply
household plumbing needs, the supply may be adequate for fire sprinklers. In some cases a
larger pump or tank may be needed for sprinklers, but standard, off-the-shelf pumps and tanks
suitable for plumbing systems are permitted. When such upgrades are provided, they actually
benefit the owner on a daily basis beyond fire protection, because the home’s plumbing system
will be more robust. Additional water storage can also be invaluable for emergency use in the
event of a natural disaster that interrupts utilities
Chief’s need to say; “If this home had sprinklers, this fire would have been controlled earlier,
with less damage.”
If there is an injury or fatality, Chief’s need to say; “If this home had sprinklers there would
likely been no injuries or fatalities.” including injuries to your fire fighters!
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