Fire Safety: Laurel Officials Recommend Home Sprinklers, Smoke Detectors

Submitted by the City of Laurel:

Mayor Craig A. Moe would like to ensure that all citizens are aware of the basics of home fire safety, the benefit of having a home fire sprinkler system and tips regarding maintenance of those systems.

Residential Home Fires

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), homes account for about 80% of all fire related death in a typical year and more than 95% of all deaths in structure fires in a typical year. Improvements in overall home fire safety are the only way to reduce these staggering statistics. No improvement has as much documented life safety effectiveness as fire sprinklers.

Home Fire Safety

Smoke alarms must be installed on every level of the home and inside of each sleeping area. All smoke alarms should be tested monthly. All newly installed smoke alarms must be 10-year type smoke alarms and have a “hush button” feature. Please note that all smoke alarms have a 10-year life expectancy and should be replaced accordingly.

Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm. For easy planning, download NFPA's escape planning grid (PDF, 634 KB). This is a great way to get children involved in fire safety in a non-threatening way.

Sprinklers

While smoke alarms and escape plans are essential parts of home fire safety but fire sprinklers do what no other technology can do. Smoke alarms are essential- they provide valuable early warning. Fire sprinklers immediately respond to a fire while it’s still small, controlling the spread of deadly heat, flames and toxic smoke- whether or not the occupants have appropriately responded to the signaling smoke alarm. Fire sprinklers make up for human error, and they provide a life-saving cushion for a time-consuming escape.

How They Work

In most homes, sprinklers operate off the household water main. Sprinklers are linked by a network of piping, typically hidden behind walls and ceilings. The high temperature of an early-stage fire (135°-165°F) will cause the sprinkler to activate. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will operate, spraying water directly on the flames. This quick action immediately controls (often extinguishes) the flames, slowing the spread of deadly heat and toxic smoke and providing occupants with more time to safely escape.

Will Smoke Cause a Fire Sprinkler to Operate?

No. Fire sprinklers respond only to the high temperature of flames. Unlike interconnected smoke alarms (if one signals, they all signal), fire sprinklers activate independently. Despite the fictional special effects commonly seen in action movies, fire sprinklers do not spray water all at once. They do not operate in response to smoke, burned toast, cooking vapors, steam, or an activating smoke alarm.

Is it Difficult to Maintain a Fire Sprinkler System?

A residential fire sprinkler system is basically maintenance free. The only testing required on a regular basis is opening the drain/test valve to check the alarm operation. The rest of the system is designed to operate properly for 20 years or more without any maintenance.

Basic Safety Precautions for Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems

Never paint or otherwise cover the fire sprinkler devices, as that will affect their sensitivity to heat. And do not hang decorations, plants or other objects from the sprinkler or piping.

For more information on home fire sprinkler systems and their maintenance, please visit the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition website at www.homefiresprinkler.org 

City of Laurel and Sprinkler Systems: Protecting Citizens from Home Fires

The City of Laurel has required the installation of sprinkler systems in all new residential and commercial construction since 1989. In July 2005 the Mayor and City Council approved Ordinance No. 1474 which further required that homes for which an addition or repair to an existing home that consisted of  50% or greater of the property value or square footage must retrofit a sprinkler system throughout the entire structure.

Living with Sprinklers Tag

You may have a tag attached to your fire sprinkler controls that explains the parts of your system and how to take care of them. If not, you can download it at www.homefiresprinkler.org. There is no charge.

For more information, please call the City of Laurel Fire Marshal, Dave Cope, at 301-725-5300 ext. 2250