Residential Fire Sprinkler Assembly
Since their introduction in the early '80s automatic fire sprinklers have increased in sophistication and exposure. A 2008 report published by Fire Smarts shows that homes using a sprinkler system are 82% safer as a result of residential fire sprinklers.
Typical costs for a residential sprinkler system are minimal (about as much as a typical whirlpool bathtub, or for a 2400 sq. ft. house about $1.50 per sq. ft.). Despite this relatively low entry point, only 3% of the total US residential market currently uses an overhead automatic sprinkler system, and the majority of new construction doesn't utilize this proven safety feature...yet.
The residential sprinkler industry is far from saturated at $100 million per year. But if people believed in the obvious cost/benefit (ROI) equation it could easily become a $3 billion per year industry. The amount of users is sure to change as the International Residential Code (IRC) mandates the installation of fire sprinklers in all one and two family residential dwellings effective January 1, 2011.
How They Work
Residential sprinkler heads are usually connected by a half inch pipe system that runs throughout the home, often concealed in the ceiling. The sprinkler heads are designed to activate at specific temperatures, between 135-165° F. When activation temperature is reached, a link inside the sprinkler head senses the heat and releases the water held under pressure in the pipes.
Once the water is released, it showers down on the heat source, thus controlling or extinguishing the fire. Because sprinkler activation requires each head to be heated, only the area above the fire is activated. Maximum distance between sprinklers is about 12 ft. (3.7 m) and maximum water pressure is approximately 130 psi (8.9 bar).
Because the fire is still in its very early stages when recognized, activation only requires minimal water (a typical home water system is usually sufficient for such systems).
