In a recently released new report, Residential Fire Sprinklers - Water Usage and Water Meter Performance Study, the Fire Protection Research Foundation (an affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association) advises that the amount of water used in fighting fires in homes without fire sprinkler systems can be more than twelve times higher than the amount discharged by a fire sprinkler system with a ten minute operation. In this study, the FPRF concludes that, in addition to saving lives and property, sprinklers have added environmental benefits, including water conservation and the potential to reduce water infrastructure demands in communities.
“We have always known that because sprinklers operate early in fires and don’t give them time to grow, the amount of resources needed to extinguish them is much less,” said Kathleen Almand, executive director of the Foundation, in a prepared statement. “This research provides an analysis of how residential sprinklers reduce the need for a specific resource, water, and the infrastructure it requires. This data is extremely useful for communities as they evaluate the big picture when assessing the benefits that come with implementing residential fire sprinklers.”
According to the report, in the eight incidents reported by the fire departments, an average of 3,524 gallons of water was discharged for firefighting at homes that did not have a residential fire sprinkler system. Assuming ten minutes of operation, typically designed home fire sprinkler systems discharge 280 gallons of water per fire.
To access this report, please visit:
Background information:
Fire Protection Research Foundation
New England City & Town: Public Safety Issues: Residential Sprinklers
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment