Next Year Brings New Home Safety Standards for New Home Buyers

Sprinkler systems have been a common safety and fire prevention feature in offices, shopping malls, hotels and other public buildings for years. But this time next year they will also be a standard feature in nearly all new homes. A new home safety requirement will become the official building standard as of January 1, 2011. The code governs new building requirements for construction in 48 states, so chances are that if you buy a new home next year, it will include fire sprinklers.

Smoke alarms are the first line of defense against home fires, but fire sprinklers can help contain and even extinguish fires if they ignite at home. In fact, the U.S. Fire Administration reports that a combination of working smoke alarms and home fire sprinklers reduces the likelihood of death from fire by more than 80 percent.

When a home fire is detected, fire sprinklers react automatically. They are smaller than typical commercial fire sprinklers and more sensitive. Residential fire sprinklers react to high temperatures (usually 135°F to 150°F) with flowing water to help control the heat, flames and toxic smoke of a home fire. The activation of one sprinkler does not trigger the entire sprinkler system. A fire in a bedroom will activate only the sprinkler in that room.

Homes armed with fire sprinklers are also much less dangerous to fire fighters and other first responders.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that in 2007 there were 414,000 residential fires and $7.5 billion in property damage as a result of those fires. Fire sprinklers, working smoke detectors and monitored fire and carbon monoxide detection are three great ways to help keep your family safe at home. Home fire sprinklers will be the standard for new homes in 2011, but why not start 2010 by making sure you have working smoke alarms and looking into monitored fire detection where the fire department will be notified of a fire at your house even when you are not at home?
 

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