Is a Residential Fire Sprinkler System Required?

by DoItYourself Staff

When it comes to the safety of your family and property, a residential fire sprinkler system can reassure you. The system can activate even if you aren’t in your house when the fire breaks out. At the same time, a fire sprinkler system can keep small fires from growing into huge ones. This results in less smoke and in less damage because fires can be extinguished earlier. Homes and families are devastated by fires every year.

Fire sprinkler systems are not mandatory for all houses in the country, but there are areas that highly suggest you install a residential fire sprinkler system.

If the Fire Department Is Too Far Away

If you live in a section of the city that is farther away from the fire department, a residential fire sprinkler system can be helpful. Because the firefighters cannot get to the area as expediently as they would like to, a fire sprinkler system can contain a fire in the meantime. The general suggestion is that if it takes 3 1/2 minutes for the fire department to get to your house, you should install fire sprinklers.

If Your House Is Too Wide

Houses that exceed more than 4,000 square feet should have fire sprinklers. First, a fire could start in another area of your home, and you don’t even know about it. Second, fire can spread rapidly throughout your entire house and then jeopardize your neighbors’ residences.

If a Fire Truck Cannot Access Your House Easily

If you live in a neighborhood with narrow access roads, your house could burn down before the fire trucks get to your place. For this reason, having your own residential fire sprinkler system is an effective way to smother the flames or at least contain the fire.

Why a Residential Fire Sprinkler System?

The primary reason for a residential fire sprinkler system is to stop fires from burning down your entire house. A residential fire sprinkler system can put out small flames or at least keep the flames manageable so as to prevent further damage and to give the firefighters enough time to reach your house.