It’s true. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately 80 percent of all fires occur in homes, but when home fire sprinklers are present the chances of dying in a home fire decrease by about 80 percent. NFPA has no record of a multiple fatality fire in a sprinklered building where the system operated. All model safety codes now call for the installation of residential sprinklers in new home construction.

Citing the fact that more than 90 percent of fireground firefighter deaths occur in one- and two-family homes, leading fire service organizations warned against state-by-state legislative efforts, orchestrated by homebuilders, which are designed to prohibit communities from requiring residential fire sprinklers in new home construction. Fire service groups are reiterating their strong support for sprinklers in the wake of several legislative attempts across the country. About the Fire Sprinkler Initiative Fire sprinklers save lives and NFPA is committed to doing all we can to bring this higher level of safety home.

• Roughly 84% of all civilian fire deaths in 2007 resulted from home structure fires.
• If you have a reported fire in your home, the risk of dying decreases by about 80% when sprinklers are present.

Sprinkler advocates across the country have asked for a coordinated effort to encourage the use of home fire sprinklers. NFPA has launched that effort through the “Fire Sprinkler Initiative: Bringing Safety Home.” The initiative includes a variety of proven, effective ways that home fire sprinkler advocates can communicate the impact of sprinklers.

This website provides resources for the fire service and other sprinkler advocates who want to demonstrate the need for home fire sprinklers in their community. Tools and field resources available here help advocates talk with local elected officials and others about the life-saving impact of sprinklers.

In addition, the site contains information to help home fire sprinkler advocates navigate the legislative process to get sprinkler ordinances introduced and passed in their communities and allow them to come together to share their ideas, successes, and tools with other advocates across the country.

The Fire Sprinkler Initiative, in cooperation with many other interested individuals and organizations, encourages the use of home fire sprinklers through increased awareness and adoption of local ordinances or model codes.

www.nfpa.org
www.firesprinklerinitiative.org