The Product Guy

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Reader Comments

at 2/18/2009 12:09:47 PM, Dave said:
Interesting to note that you make your living from writing and not from building or selling homes. How many fires have occured in a bedroom waste can as the demonstration video shows as opposed to kitchen fires while someone is in attendence? The $3-5000 cost is also only where there is municiple water. For well sytems a large holding tank, separate pump and lines will also need to be added. Between the arc fault breakers,childproof outlets and sprinkler systems, the only affordable homes will be public housing! I would ask you to get in the trenches with us, but OSHA would prohibit that!

at 2/18/2009 1:45:04 PM, Steve in NH said:
I second Dave's opinion. In 2004 we built 7 homes in a town that required a sprinkler system. The system ran off each private well requiring a holding tank. The cost then was $5500 per house for a 2000 square foot house with no addition to market value.

What do you suppose those tanks look like today with little to no homeowner care?

Also we were warned that breaking a sprinkler head with a ball or toy would cause it to go off so the owner's didn't get the lower insurance premiums so people promise.

The fact is that most fire deaths are in older housing stock without interconnected hardwired smoke detectors.

at 2/18/2009 2:10:06 PM, Nick Bajzek said:
Dave,

You're absolutely right. I don't build or sell homes(though I did work for a family friend's rehabbing business for a few summers). So please let it be known I'm no academic here and have had my hands dirty plenty of times before. When it comes to well systems, you're correct, you may need separate pumps/tanks/lines. But these are often available directly from the manufacturer and often can be installed discretely in the garage (or whatever the case may be) for little additional charge. Copy and paste this link in your browser for more (we can't hyperlink in the comments box for some reason): www.co.berks.pa.us/lfc1/cwp/view.asp?a=1648&q=464747

at 2/18/2009 2:52:30 PM, Steve said:
A few points that I see:

I know of 3 houses that have caught on fire and all 3 were in the attic where a fire sprinkler system would have little effect if any.

I can envision the case where the fire sprinkler activates to extinguish a fire and continues to flow for an extended period of time after the fire has been extinguished. No one is home and no one is notified as the house is not connected to an alarm monitoring station. The house may not have burnt to the ground, but there would certainly be mold within 48 hours. In Michigan we have a mold exclusion that would severely restrict insurance recovery for a loss created by mold yet would have a recovery for a fire loss. Who do you really think benefits? Only the insurance company.

The only benefit that I can see from the addition of fire sprinklers is the potential to save lives, which is worthy. However, I do believe the insurance issues will need to be dealt with more fairly if this is to be adopted.


at 2/26/2009 2:31:49 PM, Shannon said:
RE: the attic fires. It is true that attic spaces in single family homes are not required to be sprinklered. If a fire does start in the attic there is certainly potential for greater fire spread than if the fire were to start in a sprinklered area, however, having a sprinkler system would not have "little effect if any". The sprinkler system on the top floor would activate once the ceiling temperature got hot enough to burst the sprinkler head/heads. This would allow occupants precious time to escape and also help prevent the fire from spreading straight down. Fire sprinkler systems are not fool-proof, but they are an active defense as opposed to a passive one (such as a smoke detector).

Re: the additional cost for systems not on municipal water. It is true there is an additional cost for the pump and tank equipment required to act as a water supply for those houses where a municipal water supply is not available. This cost is typically less than $2000, and requires little to no maintenance. The tanks can be equipped with a float valve that monitors the water level in the tank and refills it as necessary so an adequate supply is always available. But homeowners on a well are not limited to installing a booster pump and tank. There are other options available, such as a constant pressure well pump. This type of pump allows for the sprinkler system to be tied into the well pump that supplies the domestic water to the house, eliminating the need for an above ground tank. This may be a better option in that the constant pressure pump is tested on a regular basis, and any problems would be easily and quickly identified.

The most important thing, however, when it comes to sprinkler systems is to make sure that the contractor responsible for installation is knowledgeable and capable. The IBC 2009 code will be coming into effect in the near future, and with it, fire sprinkler systems will be becoming more and more a part of the construction industry. As the need for fire sprinkler contractors rises, the pool will tend to be crowded with inexperienced contractors. Make sure you establish a good working relationship with your contractors, get references and proper credentials to avoid potential problems. Fire sprinkler systems are a trade unto their own – you wouldn’t hire an electrician to install your air conditioner!


at 2/27/2009 10:33:23 AM, Nick Bajzek said:
Great comments, everyone. Keep the discussion going!

at 3/13/2009 5:44:22 AM, Mike in NC said:
Hmmm...
1) As a home inspector, how would I test this system?
2) Wouldn''t a protective "cage" around the head serve to keep balls or toys from breaking them off?
3) How would this affect remodels - required?
Just a few questions that come to mind.


at 7/20/2009 9:32:54 AM, Ken in NH said:
Sprinklers do not make sense in single family homes in the north where freezing and power outages are common. Last Dec. when we where without power for close to two weeks many homes with low preasure hot water heat sustained damage. Imagine what high preasure sprinkler pipes would do to homes in that condition. The fact is that hardwired with battery backup smoke detectors do more to save lives than sprinklers in single family homes. Comparing commercial systems with

at 8/20/2009 11:31:46 PM, KalisJohn said:
You analysis about fire sprinkler is very fantastic. Its defiantly true. I also use fire sprinkler system in my villas. Which is Allstate Sprinkler Corp. It has been serving the New York City area for over 40 years. Experts in fire sprinkler systems & installations. For more information about New York Fire Sprinkler Company and new york fire sprinklers.


at 9/12/2009 3:22:40 PM, Bill in Massachusetts said:
This new law along with many new laws in Mass that have come down the pike from the initiation of the Seventh Addition building code adoption are adding so much cost to new projects & housing that few will be able to afford homes.
Putting a water storage tank in a garage is "brilliant"

at 9/12/2009 3:24:37 PM, Bill Again said:
Connect all homes to the central alarm systems of towns
& you will save lives & money

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