Contrary to what you may see in television sitcoms, a home sprinkler system will not activate and spray water throughout the house if someone lights a cigar. Burned toast won't do it either. Sprinklers are not activated by smoke or smoke alarms. Only high heat (135 to 165 degrees F of an early house fire) will set one off and then only the sprinkler closest to the fire.
DaVinci Roofscapes' polymer roof tiles are fire rated Class A (with standard underlayment) and are an example of the newer building materials that make houses safer from fire.
But many fire protection experts believe that a sprinkler system is the most effective way to keep a family safe from fire. Sprinkler systems activate before the fire trucks arrive, giving families an early warning and a chance to escape the toxic smoke and heat that can kill.
But besides the obvious lifesaving reasons, there are economical reasons why homebuyers may want to consider asking their builder to install a system. A single sprinkler controls a home fire 90 percent of the time, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), saving a majority of a home's possessions. Also, according to the non-profit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, the average fire loss in a house with a sprinkler system is $2,166 as opposed to $45,019 in a home without the protection. Sprinkler systems reduce fire damage by up to 97 percent.
And think re-sale. A Harris International Interactive poll showed almost two-thirds of U.S. homeowners believe a sprinkler system increases a home's value. Forty-five percent of respondents said a sprinklered home is more desirable than one without the system. Also, 38 percent of homeowners say they would be more likely to purchase a new home with sprinklers than without.
Residential sprinkler systems have been around for decades. Why haven't they been more popular? One reason was cost. But that is no longer as valid an excuse.
The NFPA says the cost of sprinklers has actually decreased, to an average of $1.35 per sprinklered square feet. Costs have been lowered because of the expanded use of plastic piping that eliminates the cost of copper or steel pipes, installation and labor costs. (The cost of adding a sprinkler system to an existing home can be considerably more, however.)
Ask homeowners if they are willing to spend that dollar amount on a luxury countertop or high-end flooring and they have no hesitation. Think about priorities when making those decisions. Also, some insurance companies will offer discounts to homeowners who have sprinklers.
For those who are concerned about the environment, consider this: sprinklers reduce the amount of water used to fight a fire by up to 90 percent as well as water and air pollution generated by a fire. (In most cases, a sprinkler system works off the house's main water supply line. A holding tank may be required if the property has a well or not enough water pressure is available.)
In some new residential developments, increased water hydrant spacing and additional houses are allowed if sprinkler systems are installed in all houses, an economic advantage to developers and builders.
One way to view the importance of a sprinkler system is to read a comment offered by a fire safety organization -- having a sprinkler system in the house is like having a firefighter standing guard 24/7. But don't assume you will get that protection in a new house.
"There are currently no requirements in the Ohio Fire Code for sprinkler systems in new residential construction," according to Lindsey Burnworth, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Commerce.
The fire codes of only two states, California and Maryland, require sprinkler systems in new house construction. However, Jeff Hudson, NFPA regional sprinkler specialist, said the systems are part of all model building codes.
The NFPA reports that the leading causes of unintentional, non-confined home fires include older heating and lighting equipment along with outdated electrical distribution. Newer building codes that require such things as hardwired interconnected smoke alarms are making our homes safer. Advanced materials used to build new houses have also improved our safety and include:
Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are polystyrene blocks filled with concrete that are said to withstand a fire for up to four hours. Used to create the shell of a house, ICFs are gaining popularity with more residential builders who understand the product's benefits. Concrete is noncombustible and can be used in many other ways to aid fire safety efforts, including the protection of steel components.
The most fire-resistant siding includes stone, brick, stucco, brick and newer fiber cement clapboards. Fire resistant roofing includes metal and high quality synthetic roofing tiles. Class A, B, or C is the measure of the external spread of fire on a roof surface, the best being Class A. Class 1 tests are granted by FM Global and test the entire roof assembly.
In addition, fire-resistant windows (dual-paned or glass block) help prevent outside fires from entering a home. Multiple layers of gypsum board (drywall) can be used to increase fire resistance. Flame-retardant sealers, including treated foam, help make a house less vulnerable to fire damage.
A Harris International Interactive poll showed about two-thirds of U.S. homeowners believe a sprinkler system increases a home's value.
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Jill Sell is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, home and garden. Sell can be reached at jillsell22@windstream.net.