Thursday, November 05, 2009
USFA: Fire sprinklers best protection against fire injury, death
Every home should be equipped with working smoke detectors and, ideally, fire sprinklers to prevent fire injury and death, says the U.S. Fire Administration in its new public safety campaign: Install. Inspect. Protect.
According to USFA, more than 3,000 people are killed in home fires every year, most often in homes with no working smoke alarm. The presence of smoke alarms and sprinklers reduces the risk of death by 82 percent.
In related news, a National Fire Protection Association study (.pdf file) of 20 U.S. communities concluded home fire sprinklers easily can be integrated with local water supply systems without creating design problems or incurring significant additional cost. In a hearing this week in Baltimore, members of the International Code Council voted to retain residential fire sprinkler requirements in its International Residential Code despite opposition from home builders.