Over 80 percent of fire deaths occur in the home. Home fire sprinklers can save lives. They respond quickly and effectively to fire, often extinguishing it before the fire department arrives. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water on the fire.
In 1990, the Village passed an ordinance that requires all new home construction -- as well as significant home improvement projects in which more than 49 percent of the property is rebuilt -- to have home sprinklers installed. Hoffman Estates also requires any commercial businesses larger than 1,000 square feet to have a sprinkler system. Here are some home fire sprinkler facts:
- Home fire sprinklers protect lives by keeping fires small. In many situations, a family who has survived a small fire will still have their home to live in.
- The cost of a fire sprinkler system in a new home averages about $1.35 per sprinklered square foot, an amount similar to what is spent on carpet upgrades or a whirlpool bath.
- A home sprinkler system can reduce a homeowner's insurance premium.
- Fire departments typically use 10 times more water than a fire sprinkler would use to contain a fire.
- A home fire sprinkler system is easy to maintain. Just inspect your home to make sure that the sprinklers are not blocked by something that would prevent the water from coming out, such as paint, and be sure that the main control valve is never turned off.
More than 2,500 people die in home fires a year. If a home fire occurs, the risk of dying decreases by about 80 percent when the home is equipped with a fire sprinkler system.
For more information, contact the Hoffman Estates Fire Prevention Bureau at 847-843-4835.
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