Home Fire Sprinkler Week 2019
The week of May 19-25, 2019 is Home Fire Sprinkler Week. The NFPA Fire Sprinkler Initiative and the Home Sprinkler Coalition are celebrating Home Fire Sprinkler Week with a national press event on May 22nd. During this week individuals and organizations are encouraged to promote home fire sprinklers within their local community.
The Truth About Home Fire Sprinklers
According to the NFPA, the vast majority of fire deaths in North America happen at home. 7 people die in home fires every day. One way to solve this problem is to promote the installation of home fire sprinkler systems. The risk of dying in a home fire decreases by about 85 percent when fire sprinklers are present.
Modern construction materials used to build new homes create home fires that burn more quickly. Once a fire starts, occupants may only have 1 to 2 minutes to safely escape a home that is burning once the smoke alarm goes off. Fire sprinkler systems react immediately to a fire to help put it out which allows people to escape safely. Watch this video to see the timeline of a fire in a home and how sprinklers can make a large difference.
If you are building a new home, strongly consider installing a fire sprinkler system. Fire sprinklers are affordable to install, averaging about $1.35 per sprinklered square foot for new construction. This is similar to the cost of carpet upgrades. Having sprinklers in your home can reduce property loss and lower homeowner insurance premiums.
How to Get Involved
If you are interested in getting involved in Home Fire Sprinkler Week, check with your local fire sprinkler coalition to see if they have any events planned. Here are some ideas for how to get involved:
- Conduct a fire department open house featuring fire sprinkler information
- Initiate a media event
- Do a walk-through of a sprinklered home in your community
- Host a training session about the myths and facts of home fire sprinklers
- Advocate for a “Home Fire Sprinkler Day” Proclamation in your town
- Lead a campaign on social media to demand legislators to address local fire problems and support fire sprinklers
Learn More About Home Fire Sprinkler Week
During Home Fire Sprinkler Week, take some time to advocate for home fire sprinklers in your community. If you are interested in learning more about Home Fire Sprinkler Week, visit the NFPA’s website. There you can find information about Home Fire Sprinkler Week events along with educational resources about home fire sprinklers.