Home-builders and property developers aren’t usually very excited about laws that mandate fire sprinkler systems or other in homes, often stating that the added expense of fire sprinklers will increase the building costs steeply, affecting their profits negatively. However, a surge of new statistics seems to be refuting these claims and representing a shift in the attitudes of builders as well as buyers.
These ground-breaking statistics come from the state of California that adopted the fire sprinkler requirements mandate in all its one- and two-family dwellings in January 2011. The Modesto Bee newspaper reported that the home building permits for Sacramento were up by nearly 55 percent in 2013, as compared to last year. This goes on to show that the fire sprinklers requirement does not affect housing projects. California, being one of the most populated states seems to have welcomed the idea of having fire sprinklers as a primary home offering.
“Sprinklers save lives. That’s the bottom line and that’s been proven, and they don’t impact the housing market at all in terms of housing starts or price,” Maria Figueroa, Fire Sprinkler Initiative communications project manager, told Security Systems News. The Fire Sprinkler Initiative of the NFPA, which is based here, advocates the use of home fire sprinklers.
The Sacramento report isn’t an isolated event. In fact, it mirrors a rising trend across the USA and Canada. On a similar note, a reputed developer in Ontario has resolved to include sprinklers in all his homes. TheStar.com, reported that Tony Guglietti, president of The Townwood Homes saw his 26 year old family home burn to ashes and that incident moved him deeply, inspiring him to install fire alarm systems with heat sensors and sprinklers as a standard offering in all the homes in his upcoming project, MacKenzie Ridge Terraces.
They will include a fire-suppressant sprinkler system in each room. Plus, there’ll be a heat detection system installed in each garage and wired into the home’s smoke detector alarm system.
What’s even more heartening about this warm reception to the idea of sprinklers is that most insurance companies are supporting it and offering good discounts on insurance for homes with adequate fire safety systems.
“As an insurance company, we see first-hand the tragic consequences of house fires, and we know what a difference fire sprinklers can make,” said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators. “We believe fire sprinklers should be installed in every newly built home because they make families and their property much safer; that is what our discount acknowledges. We commend Townwood Homes on their leadership.”
The verdict is clear. Fire Alarm systems are a way of life, not just home security equipment. Fire sprinklers can save your family from the grave threat of house fires and hence, are a must have.
Emily Stevenson
Author – Emily is a 10 year veteran of the home security industry working in sales. She was a top sales person at leading home security companies, but has shifted her focus to working on helping consumers make the right decisions.