Building codes extend back into history. They have been a method by which communities attempt to institute safety precautions for the citizens of the community. Most of the building codes in history focus on ways to protect the community, to reduce the loss of life and to reduce the loss of property. For instance, mandating that specific types of roofing material must be used in a community that is prone to wildfires protects the community. While it often refers to residential construction as well, the overall goal of roofing material codes is to prevent the development of a conflagration. These rules have not been controversial. However, in the 2012 International Building Code (IBC), new residential construction must have sprinkler systems installed. There has been a move towards this for several years. Various forms of building codes and construction organizations, as well as fire officials, argue both for and against this move. The International Residential Code has also moved in this direction. This paper will discuss the pros and cons of mandating residential sprinkler systems in new construction.
There is an obvious advantage towards the movement for residential sprinkler systems. Sprinklers save lives. If a fire is not allowed to spread beyond its point of origin, the fire and its products of combustion will not be able to kill the individuals in the home. This is particularly true at night when the majority of fire deaths occur in the United States. A sprinkler system can rapidly extinguish an incipient fire and prevent it from spreading throughout the structure. In most cases, a fire can be extinguished by three sprinkler heads or less. It is a myth that all sprinklers in the structure activate at once. A system does not have enough water to supply the necessary pressure for all sprinkler heads; upon arrival, a fire department must supplement the water supply to continue using the system. In residential cases, one sprinkler head will be sufficient to prevent the fire from growing beyond the incipient stage (The Scottsdale Report, 2010, p. 57). Commercial structures often require only three sprinkler heads to control a fire. This only requires a few gallons of water, and water damage is obviously minimal. It is also readily apparent that the water damage from one to five sprinkler heads would be much less significant than the water damage from the fire department hose lines.
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This is another advantage to the idea of installing residential sprinkler systems: tremendous cost savings in the potential damage. This is for a small investment. A residential sprinkler system may be installed for approximately $2,000 for a new construction model. Retrofitting an older home costs approximately 1-2% of the home’s value (Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, 2014). However, while this seems like a small amount of money, it must be noted that the cost associated with a residential sprinkler system is likely its biggest disadvantage. When a home is being built, oftentimes, all actions are done to reduce the cost of the construction. (Ironically, this often increases the risk of a significant fire in the home, as cheaper and quicker construction materials and methods are utilized.) Individuals often look for ways to “cut corners” rather than pay for something that they believe will never be used. This actually represents a psychological aspects of humans: denial. It is difficult to convince an individual that a fire may occur in his or her home. The person does not want to think about such a negative thing. As such, the extra $2,000 is considered a waste. The person would rather spend the money on something he or she thinks will be used, such as new carpeting.
Residential sprinkler systems remain a controversial aspect of building codes. They provide a significant layer of fire protection for individuals in a home. Only one fire sprinkler head can stop an incipient fire. However, there is a cost associated with the installation of these systems. Many individuals believe they will never need them. As such, they believe it is good money wasted. It may actually be the best money they ever spent.
- Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. (2014). Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.firesprinkleradvisoryboard.org/mythsandfacts.html
- The Scottsdale Report. (2010). Automatic Sprinkler Systems. Retrieved from: http://www.ircfiresprinkler.org/docs/scottsdale%20sprinklers%2010%20year%20report.pdf
