1. Fire Service Professionals
Welcome
Fire Service Professionals
Fire Service Professionals `

2. Facts On Fire
3140 civilian fire deaths in residential occupancies, 80 in non-residential.
84% of all fire deaths occur in the home.
81% of fire deaths occur in single-family dwellings.
103 Firefighters died in the line of duty (this does not include the 343 who died in the WTC Terrorist attack.
The South has the highest fire death rate per-capita with 17.8 civilian deaths per million population compared to the average of 13.4.
Direct property loss annually to fire is estimated at $10.6 billion.

3. U.S. Fire Statistics Source NFPA Fire Journal Sept -Oct - 20058
U.S. Fire Statistics Source NFPA Fire Journal Sept -Oct
Reference Materials:
Annual NFPA Fire Journal, Sept./Oct.
Over 1.55 Million Fires
More Than 3,900 Civilian Deaths
17,785 Thousand Civilian Injuries
Over 8.3 Billion Dollars in Property Loss
Total Cost of Fire Exceeds 88 Billion Dollars
Review the facts depicted on the slide
Note: Cost of fire per family equates to almost $600 per family based on
a cost of $40 billion divided by a population of 280 million.

4. 9
Additional Fire Facts
Every 82 seconds fire occurs in a U.S. residence.
Every 31 minutes a civilian is injured by fire.
Eight out of ten fire deaths occur in the home.
Review the facts depicted on the slide.

5. Fire Death and Injuries in One- & Two-family Dwellings
Fire Death and Injuries in One- & Two-family Dwellings* (Percentage of Residential)
Fire deaths: %
Fire injuries: 74%
Fire property damage: 83%
Fireground firefighter deaths: 70%
*2004 NFPA
Fire Deaths 2920/3445 = 85%
Fire Injuries ,575/17,400 = 73%
Fire Property Damage B/5.674B = 82%
FF Deaths /18 = 78%
Fire Injuries 11,550/16,425 = 70%
Fire Property Damage $4.123B/5.092B = 81%
Fireground FF Deaths 11/16 = 69%

6. More Fire Facts Young children, older adults, and physically and10
Young children, older adults, and physically and
mentally challenged people face the highest risk of
injury or death in residential fires.
Too often, people fail to respond appropriately to
the sound of a smoke detector, because they
assume it is a false alarm. Rather that exiting the
building, they search to confirm the existence of a
fire, wasting the few precious minutes they may
have to escape.
Review the facts depicted on the slide.

7. Fire sprinkler facts
Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire.
Each sprinkler is individually activated by heat.
90% of all home fires are contained with a single sprinkler.
The odds of accidental activation are 1 in 16 million.

8. How does a home fire sprinklers’ discharge compare to a fire hose attack line discharge?
A residential low flow pendant sprinkler head delivers approximately 13 to 18 gallons per minute of water
A fire hose attack line delivers 200 gallons per minute (this does not include a backup line which would double the flow of water)
Sprinkler systems represent a choice, a little water when the fire starts or a lot of water when the fire department arrives

9. But what about Water Damage?
Average water usage for sprinklered home gallons
Average water usage for unsprinklered home 2935 gallons
Average repair costs for sprinklered home $2,166 dollars
Average repair costs for unsprinklered home $45,019 dollars
With both smoke detection and sprinklers,
death, injury by fire is reduced by 82%
Sprinklers also have a “green value”. Since less
water is applied to the fire, less contaminated
runoff is produced, additionally water mains are
not disturbed creating water clarity issues.

10. Water Damage/ Accidental Release Not Needed/ Fire Unlikely
Consideration of Home Fire Sprinkler
System Installation
Respondents indicating they thought home fire sprinkler systems were either very effective or somewhat effective were asked if they would consider installing a sprinkler system if they were building a new home.
Reasons for Not Considering
No, Would
Not Consider
32%
Yes, Would
Consider
64%
Too Expensive
Water Damage/ Accidental Release
Not Needed/ Fire Unlikely
Alarms Adequate
All Others
Don’t Know
Don’t Know 5%
Base: 457
Base: 146

11. Degree of Trust Concerning Information about Home Fire Sprinkler Systems
Respondents were asked how much they would trust the following individuals or organization to give them reliable information about home fire sprinkler systems.
Firefighters garnered far and away the greatest amount of trust.
A lot
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
Fire
fighter
Friend/
Relative
Home
Builder
Home
Building
Media
Building
Supply
Store
Realtor
Base: 500

12. It is time to realize that firefighting involves fighting time, not fire.
2 minutes
4 minutes.
7 minutes.
The standard time-temperature curve shows that temperatures can reach over 1,000°F in five minutes and flashover can begin as early as 7½ minutes after ignition.

13. How does time affect the Fire Department’s ability to deliver service?

15. Home Fire Sprinklers and Firefighter Safety

16. Firefighter Injuries / Deaths by Occupancy
More injuries to firefighters occur in one and two family dwellings than any other occupancy
44% of all Line of Duty deaths occur in one and two family dwellings
One and two family dwellings are a greater danger to firefighters than all other occupancies combined

17. Effects of Injury / Death
The costs to the community to rehabilitate a firefighter from injuries sustained in the line of duty are 10 times greater than that of a death
This does not factor in the emotional issues to the family, friends, loved ones and fire department

18. But what about Smoke Detectors?
Smoke detectors have a 10 year life expectancy
It is stated that there are more non functioning / aged out smoke detectors in homes than there are homes without any smoke detectors.
When is the last time you personally checked your smoke detectors and what is the age of your device(s)?

19. But what about Smoke Detectors (cont.)
Smoke detection is a “passive” device that only warns of impending danger
Dependent on the type of fire and the specific smoke detection device, response to the condition could provide little time to initiate escape

20. How well does smoke detectors work?
From 1989 to 1999, a fatality occurred in 1 of every 5 residential fires with working smoke detectors
From 1999 to 2001, a fatality occurred in 1 of every 3 residential fires with working smoke detectors

21. How well does smoke detection work (cont.)
Only 58% of children ages 6 to 12 was awakened by the sound of a smoke detector activation
Of this 58%, only 38% of those awakened successfully evacuated the residence

22. What about Residential Sprinklers?
The purpose is to prevent Flashover, control / contain the fire, but will often extinguish same
Keeps smoke, heat and products of combustion at a survivable level for occupant egress
Temp. at eye level degrees
Temp. at ceiling level 500 degrees
Maximum CO level ppm

23. How does NFPA 13 systems compare with NFPA 13 D systems?

24. NFPA 13 Systems
NFPA 13 systems are designed for commercial occupancies
The average sprinkler head (SSP, SSU) discharges 25 to 35 gallons per minute.
Sprinkler heads are located “everywhere” – attics, basements, crawl spaces, closets and concealed spaces
Systems are designed for the flow of multiple heads (12-15 on average)
Required FDC and hydrostatic test of 200 psi
Designed primarily for property conservation
Life safety is a byproduct of the system

25. NFPA 13D systems Are designed for 1 and 2 family dwellings
The average sprinkler head discharges 13 to 18 gallons per minute
Required Sprinkler heads are located in paths of function / egress only – bedrooms, hallways, kitchens, dining rooms and laundry rooms - none in attics, crawl spaces - closets (size dependent, does not exceed 24 square ft. & least dimension does not exceed 3 ft.) or bathrooms (size dependent, 55 square ft. or less )
This coverage provides fire protection from 83% of all areas fire originates – (Living room 41%, Bedroom 27%, Kitchen 15%)
Systems are designed for the flow of 1 to 2 sprinkler heads – (typical k-factor 4.5 to 4.9). This represents a density of .05 gpm per square foot
Typically, no required FDC and hydrostatic test done at normal system operating pressures
Designed primarily for life safety only but will contain or frequently extinguish the fire

26. How are Residential Sprinklers Different ?25
How are Residential Sprinklers Different ?
Respond Approx. 5 Times Faster
Less Water Needed
Different Water Application
Lower Cost to Install
More Aesthetically Pleasing
Review the notes in this slide

27. Standard Spray Sprinkler
High Wall Wetting Capability
Residential
Sprinkler
Standard Spray Sprinkler

28. High Wall Wetting Capability
Standard Spray Sprinkler
Residential
Sprinkler
36”
30”

29. Sprinkler Activations Per Fire27
Reference Materials:
Operation Life Safety Newsletter
Vol. 9, Number 8, Pg. 2
365
326 32 7

30. What do Residential Sprinklers Cost ?30
What do Residential Sprinklers Cost ?
Reference Materials:
Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Brochures
Average cost of 1% - 1.5% of new construction
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1 1
Retrofit would typically cost more.
Due to recent reductions in the cost of residential sprinklers, current
installation processes and modern materials, a complete residential sprinkler
system may add only 1 to 1.5 percent to the total cost of new construction.
What if there is not a good municipal or county water supply?
Then we must add approximately $2,000 to $3,000 for a stored water supply and
pressurizing device. Several companies currently have available “packaged”
residential pump and tank systems.
ONE 1 1
ONE DOLLAR

31. NFPA 13D Sprinkler system costs
Typical cost for new construction in a single family home with a good municipal water supply – between $.50 and $2.00 per square foot
Auxiliary water supply is not needed due the domestic water supplying the sprinkler system**
With the sprinkler system supplying the cold water distribution, additional cost is negligible**
** multi-purpose system (sprinkler system is designed with a 5 gpm background demand for domestic water use)

32. What if I am on a Well?
While a municipal water supply is the best water supply source, a stored water source is also permitted. A 10 minute water supply is needed for a 2 head activation (generally 300 to 400 gals.) The addition of a storage tank and pump assembly adds approximately $1,500 to 2,000 to the system cost.

33. Typical connection to municipal water
1” feed or greater

34. Additional Bonuses for Multi- Purpose systems
Sprinkler system cannot be shut off independent of the domestic water use
With domestic water service being supplied by sprinkler system, the chance of system freezing is greatly reduced
With the domestic system supplying the sprinklers, additional swing check or backflow prevention valves are not necessary. This gives addition pressure and volume to the sprinklers and saves money on the installation of the system

35. Typical Layout of an NFPA 13D Compliant multi-purpose home fire sprinkler system
Cold water domestic feed
Sprinkler Heads

36. Point of attachment of sprinkler system to domestic water entry
To sprinkler system loop and all cold water domestic uses
To water heater
Feed from water meter

37. Manifold assembly – point of attachment of cold water domestic supply
Cold water feed off sprinkler loop providing supply to water closet, shower and sink

38. How Are We Going to Reduce Costs?
Reduce the number of sprinklers in the design to two(We know over 90% of the time only two go off, so only design for two)
This results in less water required
This results in less pressure required to push it
This results in smaller (less expensive) pipe

39. How Else Are We Going to Reduce Costs?
Reduce the cost of materials and installation
Lower schedules of steel pipe
CPVC or PEX plastic pipe
Use non listed components where not critical to life safety
Tanks pumps, hangers, waterflow detection devices & waterflow valves

40. How Else Are We Going to Reduce Costs?
Omit sprinklers in certain locations
Areas not critical to life safety
How do we know where to omit them?
We need to know, not just where fires start, but where fires start that KILL people

41. Where Fires Start That KILL People in 1 & 2 Family Dwellings & Mfg
Where Fires Start That KILL People in 1 & 2 Family Dwellings & Mfg. Housing
Living Room 41%
Bedroom %
Kitchen %
Storage Area 4%
Heating Equipment Room 3%
Structural Area 2%
Other Areas 8% 9

42. Here’s What’s At the Bottom of the List(other)
Sprinklers shall be installed in all areas Except:
Bathrooms less than 55 ft.2
Clothes closets, linen closets and pantries less than 24 ft.2 least dimension 3 ft.
Garages, carports & open attached porches
Attics, crawl spaces and concealed spaces
Entrance foyers (if a second exit is provided) 11

43. How Else Are We Going to Reduce Costs?
Reduce the water supply requirements
We’ve already reduced the number of heads in our design to two
Lower the flow requirements from .10 to .05gpm/ft2
Lower the duration requirement to 10 minutes (7 mins. if it is a single story home < ft.2)

44. How Else Are We Going to Reduce Costs?
Regardless of what we do with the water supply,
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ARE ALWAYS DESIGNED TO MEET THE ABILITIES OF THE WATER SUPPLY, NOT VICE VERSA

45. Improve Aesthetics Make them smaller Make them concealed, recessed
Offer them in various colors / shades

46. To These
From this

47. Within this project firefighters and homeowners learn about sprinklers.

48. Homes with 13D Sprinklers Chief Dan Jones – Chapel Hill FD

49. Habitat Home – Southern Pines

50. Lee Home - Mocksville

51. Pictures of sprinklers29
Special Equipment:
A residential fire sprinkler
to show the audience.
(obtain from a local fire sprinkler contractor)
Pictures of sprinklers
Sprinklers for residential installations are no longer the:
“ugly things from the ceiling.”
Today’s residential sprinklers may be concealed in ceilings out of sight until
needed to extinguish a fire.
They are available in a wide range of sizes and colors to blend into the
background of almost any room.
Pass around a residential fire sprinkler.

54. Can you spot the sprinkler?

55. Do we want this?
OR……

56. Do we continue to protect our citizens like this?

58. Questions?

59. Promoting Home Fire Sprinklers by Education
The NC Home Sprinkler Alliance was formed and our mission is to educate the fire service who can then turn and educate the public. Alliance is made up of fire service, fire and life safety educators, burn center rep, insurance rep, sprinkler representatives, OSFM code staff and Floyd. Presentations at conferences, FLSE, NCSFA, Fire Team USA.
Starting training classes, Pinehurst, actual installation of a residential sprinkler system in Habitat for Humanity
Website
Resources
Marketing techniques- working with USFA, NFPA
Fire Team USA/ World Burn Congress
Outreach during National Burn Awarenss Week.

60. Who needs to be educated?
Fire Service
Code officials
Homeowners
Elected officials
Insurance agents/agencies
Homebuilders
Technical and Community colleges
All Stakeholders
Fire service. We need to educate ourselves. Learn what the facts are and be able to dispel myths that even fire service believes. What do your firefighters know about sprinklers other than what they learned in FF I and II. Do they know about multi purpose systems? We need to be able to talk about sprinklers to all of these stakeholders.
Fire inspectors and building officials need to understand about multi purpose systems and the need for sprinklers. Need their support for push for code changes.
Homeowners. If mom’s and grandma’s knew that they could be protecting their families better they would be asking questions. New home builders when asked about sprinklers will probably tell you…”Never thought about it”. We need to get them to start thinking about it.
Elected officials- Especially with the BCC events we need to make sure that we educate all of the elected officials that we can.
Insurance agents don’t even know a lot of times if there are any reductions to insurance cost, sometimes looked at as a flood hazard.
Homebuilders. – Young homebuilders have no clue about sprinklers other than what they are hearing from NAHB
Tech and CC- educate homebuilders about sprinklers so they know when they start building

61. Promoting Sprinklers Educate yourself and firefighters in your dept
Advertise
Mention sprinklers to press every opportunity
Educate the firefighters about the need for sprinklers, be familiar with multi-purpose sprinkler systems, NFPA 13 D and be able to dispel myths associated with sprinklers.
Place signs about fire sprinkler systems for the home in front of the fire stations. A lot of the public drives by fire stations everyday. If they read the signs everyday some of them will start asking about what fire sprinklers are and how can they install them. Signage can also help politically as far as obtaining support for fire sprinkler legislation.
-Place bumper stickers on all apparatus stating "Fire Sprinklers save lives, fire-fighters and civilians" Everyone reads bumper stickers in traffic and waiting in traffic
-Sponsor a billboard on the highway, on the walls at the little league ball fields, on buses with the message about fire sprinklers.
-During fire scene interviews remember to add fire sprinklers into the discussion. Majority of people watch evening and late night news, especially when they cover local fires. Encourage all fire chiefs, PIO's and anyone talking to the press about a fire to mention if sprinklers were present or not and to promote sprinklers at every opportunity possible.

62. Resources Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
Free Educational Kit for public educators
Built for Life Builder Kit
Brochures
HomeFireSprinkler.org
Marble Mountain DVD Orange Co Fire Authority

63. Resources Fire Team USA www.fireteamusa.com Radio psa’s
Scottsdale report
Flyers- all reproducable
Ordinances
Power point presentations
Motivating Fire Chiefs
A New Perspective
Community Fire Protection
Residential Sprinklers-Not Rocket Science
NAHB Point/Counterpoint