21 Things you didn't know about Fire Sprinklers

1: Reliability

Sprinkler systems have been proven in use for well over 100 years, during which time they have a 99% success rate worldwide. Systems over 100 years old are still in full working condition today.

2: Popularity

More than 40 million sprinklers are fitted world wide every year

3: Unnecessary Deaths

Thousands of people are killed every year in unsprinklered buildings world wide

4: Life Safety Record

Sprinklers are approved for Life Safety purposes. (They 'buy time' for evacuation and property protection)

5: Life Safety Record

In the UK, there has never been a fire death in a fully sprinklered building. US Government employees on business only stay in sprinklered hotels becasue the government will not otherwise pay their expenses.

6: Sprinklers Save Money

Losses from fires in buildings protected by sprinklers are estimated to be only one tenth of those in unprotected buildings.

7: Operational Facts

It is untrue that all sprinklers operate when fire breaks out. In 60% of cases, fires are controlled by the spray from 4 sprinklers or less.

8: Limited Water Damage

Reports of water damage caused by sprinklers are often exaggerated. Firemen often use 10 times more water from hoses to do the same job as a sprinkler. 

9: Proven Reliability

Sprinklers are very stable and do not operate spuriously. Worlswide records show that only 1 in 16 million sprinklers installed per year will result in failure. Every single sprinkler head is independently tested before leaving the manufacturing plant.

10: Environmentally Friendly

Sprinklers help to protect the environment by controlling fire in its early stages, preventing airborne pollution and Fire Water Run Off  - a posionous cocktail of water and chemicals which can wash into our water sources through the ground, rivers and main drains, when the fire fighters launch a large scale water attack.

11: Conserve Water Sources

Sprinklers save water. Statistics show that widespread use of sprinklers could save upto 96% of the 5.6 billion litres of water used anually in the UK to fight large fires.

12: The Threat of Petroleum and Chemical fires reduced

Sprinklers can now be foam enhanced to control flammable liquid, chemical and petroleum fires which are difficult to control because they float on water.

13: Cost Effective to install

The cost of installing a sprinkler system is roughly equivalent to carpeting the same building.

14: Insurance Discounts

Insurance companies sometimes offer discounts of up to 70% for buildings that are protected by Sprinklers.

15: Construction Trade Offs

Sprinklers can save on building costs because, under the Building Regulations, larger compartments (rooms) may be constructed. Reduced boundary and extended travel distances to exits are also allowed.

16: Legal Protection

Sprinklers can provide legal protection because a company can be held responsible for the consequences of a fire if adequate precautions have not been taken.

17: Protecting Investments

Sprinklers can help protect businesses by protecting investments, market positions and exports, reducing insurance costs.

18: Easy to Install

Sprinkler systems can be easily fitted to existing buildings. 

19: Heritage Protection

Sprinkler systems are ideal for protecting irreplaceable heritage properties.

20: Fully endorsed by Fire Services etc.

The use of sprinklers is strongly supported by fire services, insurance companies, architects, building control officers and other specialists. 

21: Domestic Applications

Special domestic sprinklers can now be installed to protect domestic houses and buildings of multiple occupancy.