In response to the state’s tri-annual update of the Uniform Construction Code, contentious confusion abounds. The PA Builders Association is currently rallying against a requirement for sprinkler systems in new residential construction, and the Lancaster Newspapers have publicized against the measure—first in a New Era editorial and later in a prominently featured letter to the editor. However, research indicates that the new requirement would save lives and resources to a degree that cannot be matched by any alternative.
A fire protection industry professional told NewsLanc that a sprinkler system, installed during construction, costs $2-4 per square foot. The variation in cost, he said, depends on the water source. Public water provides adequate pressure in itself, while well systems require additional installations. A cost assessment from the Fire Protection Research Foundation estimated an average home installation cost of $1.61 per square foot—about the price of wall-to-wall carpet.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “If you have a reported fire in your home, the risk of dying decreases by about 80 percent when sprinklers are present.” Working smoke alarms, on the other hand, will only decrease the risk of death by 50%. The NFPA is a nonprofit organization that serves as the international leading advocate for fire safety consensus codes and standards.
These systems are designed to mitigate the spread of fire until the arrival of first-responders. However, a 2008 technical analysis by Tyco Fire Suppression notes that sprinklers often do a lot more than facilitate evacuation: “Residential sprinklers are not intended to protect the structure, however in most real world cases a single sprinkler operates and controls or extinguishes the fire, saving both lives and property.”
According to the 2008 report, sprinklers are especially important given today’s more lightweight building materials:
“One example of the difference in fire performance of a lightweight structural member compared to solid sawn lumber is the behavior of composite wood joists. When a composite wood joist is exposed to fire, the thin oriented strand board used as the web in the joist is quickly consumed, which results in an inability of the joist to carry load and ultimately a failure of the supported floor assembly.”
After conducting scale tests, the report later concludes that while even a modest sprinkler system can prevent excessive fire damage with these newer materials, structural collapse can occur in under 10 minutes with no mitigation system in place.
Pound for pound, residential fire sprinklers have been shown to provide an overall savings for the homeowner. A 2007 benefit-cost analysis from the US Department of Commerce assessed the comprehensive value of these systems, accounting for averted fatalities and injuries, property damage reduction, and insurance benefits. The net present value calculated for sprinkler systems in the average colonial, townhouse, and ranch house, respectively, were $2,919, $3,099, and $4,165.
