Other PPFA Products: ABS | Cements | CPVC | Fire Sprinklers | Fittings | PE | PEX | PVC | TIPS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

But won’t plastic pipes melt in a fire? No, the heads are designed to rapidly activate when ceiling temperatures indicate a fire is occurring in the room long before excessive temperatures are reached, water in the pipe is dispersed immediately when the head is activated. Also, any piping systems are typically installed behind the drywall of the ceiling or wall – an effective fire barrier. Based on extensive fire exposure tests, CPVC systems are listed for use exposed or without protection.

Don’t all the heads activate at once? No, that only happens in the movies! Heads must reach a predetermined high temperature to activate, and typically only one or two heads are used to control or extinguish a fire in a residential building.

Aren’t they ugly or distracting? Residential heads are smaller than commercial units and there are even fully recessed models that are concealed by a cover plate that can be matched to the ceiling. The cover is held in place by a heat activated metallic fuse, and the head drops down when activated.

Can I install them myself? This is not recommended. Life safety systems must be installed in compliance with codes and standards so that the design is correct and an adequate water supply to the heads is available. Properly trained and qualified contractors should install fire sprinklers.

Can any plastic pipe be used to install a fire sprinkler system? No. Only specialty listed products that have been tested by an independent laboratory for fire sprinkler service can be used.

Why should I consider installing home fire sprinklers? Every 90 seconds a home fire is reported in the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), eight out of 10 fire fatalities occur where Americans feel safest — in their own homes.

Don’t smoke alarms already protect homes? Smoke detectors certainly do reduce home fire deaths…but only if they’re properly maintained and operational. And smoke detectors only warn of a fire, they can’t control a fire like a sprinkler system. Adding a sprinkler system increases the likelihood of surviving a fire. Without fire sprinklers, a home can be engulfed in flames rapidly, whereas a single sprinkler can control, or in many cases, extinguish a fire in seconds.

Is demand for residential fire sprinklers increasing? More and more homebuyers are demanding fire sprinklers in their homes. According to a Harris Interactive poll, many homeowners would prefer to install a fire sprinkler system over cabinet upgrades (35%) or hardwood floors (36%). And 38% said they would be more likely to purchase a new home with sprinklers than one without.

Will residential fire sprinkler systems become mandatory? As cities and fire departments realize the life-saving benefits of residential fire sprinklers, more and more localities are mandating sprinklers. More than 400 jurisdictions in the United States currently require fire sprinklers in single family homes. It is expected that these ordinances will continue to expand rapidly, as more cities, counties and states discover that residential sprinklers affordably protect lives and homes. And after January 1, 2011, every state or jurisdiction that adopts the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) will require fire sprinklers in every new home.

Why would a builder offer sprinklers before they’re mandated? Progressive and forward-thinking builders have an opportunity to differentiate themselves from their competition by providing homebuyers with a desirable safety feature. And by adding fire sprinklers to a housing development, site development costs can often be reduced due to allowances for narrower streets, increased hydrant spacing, additional units, smaller turnarounds, etc.

How do fire sprinklers look in a home? Barely noticeable, each sprinkler can be recessed or tastefully concealed behind a cover plate that falls away when activated.

How do fire sprinklers work? Sprinklers are activated by heat, not smoke. So a sprinkler will activate only where the fire is, and many house fires can be controlled by just one sprinkler.

Do fire sprinkler systems require maintenance? Multipurpose systems are integrated into a home's cold-water plumbing, so they don’t require back flow preventers or check valves and the maintenance associated with a commercial system. Stand alone systems may require simple inspection of a back flow preventer and antifreeze protection.

How are sprinkler system layouts designed? Fire sprinkler systems have to be designed to ensure that, if there is an activation, the sprinklers will operate as expected. To be certain that adequate water pressure and flow is available to each sprinkler, the system needs to be hydraulically designed by a qualified design technician. Sprinkler design qualifications may vary among jurisdictions, so check with your sprinkler system manufacturer or contractor for design assistance.

What information is needed to create a sprinkler layout design? In addition to a detailed house plan, the designer will also need information on the available water supply, including water pressure, distance from the street to the meter, water supply pipe size, water meter size, etc.

What if the house is not on city water? Many residential fire sprinkler systems are installed in homes with well water supplies. Your sprinkler layout designer will ensure that the home’s well and pump is able to supply the necessary water flow.

Does installing a fire sprinkler system require an additional contractor? Both stand alone and multipurpose systems can be installed by any contractor that meets the requirements of that particular jurisdiction. Multipurpose systems combine fire sprinklers with a home’s cold water plumbing, which means that in many cases, the sprinklers can be installed by the qualified plumber that’s already on the job site.

How can the operation of a fire sprinkler system be verified? Sprinkler layouts are created by performing hydraulic calculations which ensure that the system is properly designed. Another way is that an installed system can be “flow tested” by unscrewing the sprinkler from the most hydraulically remote fitting (identified in the sprinkler layout plan) and running water through the system into a container. This test demonstrates that the system is flowing the necessary water, as designed. And with a multipurpose system, since it’s connected to the cold-water plumbing, every time you use a cold-water plumbing fixture, you know that water is also flowing through the sprinkler system. An alarm can be installed that will provide an alert should there be a sprinkler activation,

Will installing a sprinkler system affect a home building schedule? No, it’s just a matter of the builder and the fire sprinkler installer coordinating their schedules. Since a multipurpose sprinkler system is connected to a home’s plumbing, this combined system can be installed by the qualified, licensed plumber who is already on the jobsite. In some cases, thefire sprinkler contractor can install and test the fire sprinkler side of the Multipurpose system and the plumbing contractor can run the plumbing pipe to the cold water fixtures from stub outs left on the fire sprinkler system, minimizing any coordination or scheduling issues.

Are there any concerns about installing sprinklers in cold-climate homes? When properly installed with appropriate insulation, there is virtually no danger of sprinkler tubing freezing. In cold-weather regions, stand alone sprinkler systems can be filled with a suitable non-freezing liquid. Since multipurpose systems are connected to the plumbing system, water moves through the system every time a cold-water plumbing fixture is used, reducing the likelihood of unexpected freezing. It is important to remember that all plumbing systems and fire sprinkler systems need to be and can be designed so they are not at risk of freezing.

Have home fire sprinklers been established and proven in the market? Sprinklers have been trusted in the market for over 100 years and trained professionals have installed thousands of UL approved sprinkler systems in homes all over the U.S. In addition, residential fire sprinkler systems use the same trusted, high-quality plastic tubing that is used in home plumbing systems. So you can count on its affordability and durability.

What industry regulations, codes and standards apply to sprinkler systems? The industry standard for the installation of residential fire sprinklers is NFPA 13D, published by the National Fire Protection Association. Other applicable listings are UL1821 and NSF (National Sanitation Foundation, for multipurpose systems).

Can a sprinkler go off accidentally? Fire sprinklers respond to heat, not smoke. The odds of a malfunction are remote.

Can fire sprinklers be accidentally damaged? Since residential sprinklers can be recessed into the ceiling and protected by an attractive cover plate, the potential for accidental damage is minimized.

What about potential water damage? When activated, a residential fire sprinkler system will utilize only 10 to 15 gallons of water per minute, whereas a fire department response will pour up to 250 gallons of water per minute into a burning home.

How much does a fire sprinkler system cost? A fire sprinkler system typically adds as little as 1 to 1.5% to the cost of constructing a new home…about the same as acarpet or cabinetry upgrade. A small price to pay to protect lives, property and possessions.

How does a residential fire sprinkler system affect insurance rates? Insurance companies recognize the life and property saving benefits of residential fire sprinklers, and many offer homeowners fire insurance premium discounts up to 30%.

What else is important to know? Always check the chemical compatibility of antifreezes, thread sealants, firestops, and any other construction products used with the systems with the manufacturer. Incompatible materials may damage the systems and void any warranty.

Who manufactures these systems? Contact the following PPFA member companies for more information on these systems.

Harvel www.Harvelsprinklerpipe.com (BlazeMaster Marketing Partner)
Lubrizol www.Blazemaster.com
NIBCO www.NIBCO.com (BlazeMaster Marketing Partner)
Uponor www.Uponor-USA.com
Viega http://www.viega.net/

What other sources of outside information on fire sprinklers can you recommend?

www.firesprinklerinitiative.org
www.firesafehome.org
www.ircfiresprinkler.org
www.nfsa.org
www.sprinklernet.org
www.homefiresprinkler.org

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