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ALARM BOX Alarm Box: Fire sprinkler systems not just for commercial buildings Comment By Margueritte Hickman Ashland Fire & Rescue DailyTidings.com By Margueritte Hickman Ashland Fire & Rescue Posted Jun. 7, 2016 at 6:02 PM By Margueritte Hickman Ashland Fire & Rescue Posted Jun. 7, 2016 at 6:02 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Alarm Box: Simple steps reduce wildland fire risk • Alarm Box: Simple safety steps help pass inspections • Alarm Box: Here's your chance to do some spring cleaning • Alarm Box: Make sure emergency responders can find you » Social News Last week I attended a meeting of the Oregon Fire Sprinkler Coalition. This group’s existence has one sole purpose — to promote the benefits and installation of home fire sprinklers. Perhaps you’ve only considered fire sprinklers be a part of commercial buildings or large apartments. A simpler and less expensive system can be installed in any home. So, why would I want to consider spending money on a sprinkler system? There are several places in our country that have been requiring and installing home fire sprinkler systems for several years — Scottsdale, Arizona, and the state of California are two. What we have learned from studies in the communities that have been installing them for the last 20-30 years is great. In home fires where fire sprinklers have been installed, no one who lived in the home has died, no firefighters have died, and there are fewer firefighter injuries. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, your chances of surviving a home fire if you have a smoke alarm and a fire sprinkler system are 100 percent. I can hear what you’re thinking — they’re expensive, they all go off at once, they’re ugly. Actually, these are all myths. Let’s dispel these myths. Each fire sprinkler head has its own heat-sensing device. This allows only the head(s) closest to the fire to activate. In most home fires, only one head activates and controls the fire. If you’re concerned about the aesthetics of the sprinkler system, there is a solution. Concealed heads are hidden behind a round disk on the ceiling. These come in a few colors from the manufacturer or you can have them painted with your color by the manufacturer. Because they have a heat sensitive device as part of the concealed head, you don’t want to paint them yourself. The cost of home fire sprinklers is amazingly low. In Southern Oregon we are experiencing costs at $1.50 per square foot or less at time of construction. This would be a total of $3,000 in a 2,000-square-foot home — less than granite or the new furniture. Fire sprinklers also contribute positively to the environment. Only a few hundred gallons are used by a sprinkler system to control a fire, versus 3,000 gallons by firefighters. This, in turn, causes less contaminated water runoff. Because the fire is controlled more quickly, there is less smoke emission. The water for fire sprinklers can come from the municipal water system or there is tank type system that will fit in the garage. Fire sprinklers can be installed by a plumber or a fire sprinkler company and can be integral to your home plumbing system. While home fire sprinkler systems have been designed and tested to increase the time the occupants have to escape, we have found that in most cases, they also protect the home. The bottom line is this: No one knows if or when a fire will strike. I can guarantee that no one goes to work thinking, “I’m going to have an accidental house fire today.” Wouldn’t it be worth the peace of mind to know that your family is safe by having a home fire sprinkler system? If you are planning to build a new home, please call me to talk about installing home fire sprinklers, or look at www.homefiresprinkler.org . The Alarm Box, a column with local public safety information, appears triweekly in the Tidings. Margueritte Hickman is a division chief/fire marshal with Ashland Fire & Rescue. Email topic suggestions to her at margueritte.hickman @ashland.or.us. By Margueritte Hickman Ashland Fire & Rescue DailyTidings.com By Margueritte Hickman Ashland Fire & Rescue Posted Jun. 7, 2016 at 6:02 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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