Automatic fire sprinklers systems have enjoyed an enviable record of protecting life and property for over 100 years. Yet, there are still common misunderstandings about the operation and effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems.
Myth:
“Water damage from a sprinkler system will be more extensive than fire damage.”
Fact:
Water damage from a home fire sprinkler system will be less severe than the damage caused by water from fire-fighting hose lines or smoke and fire damage if the fire goes unabated. Quick response sprinklers release 8-24 gallons of water per minute compared to 50-125 gallons per minute released by a firehose.
Myth:
“When a fire occurs, every sprinkler head goes off.”
Fact:
Sprinklers heads are individually activated by fire. Residential fires are usually controlled with one sprinkler head. 90% of all fires are controlled with six or fewer heads and a study conducted in Australia and New Zealand covering 82 years of automatic sprinkler use found that 82% of the fires which occurred were controlled by two or fewer sprinkler heads.
Myth:
“ A smoke detector provides enough protection.”
Fact:
Smoke detectors save lives by providing a warning system but can do nothing to extinguish a growing fire or protect those physically unable to escape on their own, such as the elderly or small children. Too often, battery operated smoke detectors fail to function because the batteries are dead or have been removed. As the percent of homes that were “protected with smoke detectors increased from zero to more than 70%, the number of fire deaths in homes did not significantly decrease.
