Where do I find a contractor with the proper qualifications to install a sprinkler system in my home. Will you please address in a future article what I should look for and insist upon when making my selection?

My name is Scott Kimbrell. I am a branch manager of Ranger Fire here in Oklahoma. I am thrilled to see that there is a website to enlighten the public of how important life safety is. What people need to understand is that for a few thousand dollars they can not only lower their insurance premium, but also sleep well at night knowing that their loved ones are protected form fire and smoke.
If there is anything I can do to help spread the word let me know.

I am thrilled to see your web site, I have operated Residential Fire Sprinklers a licensed California C-16 fire protection contractor since 1994. Complete Fire Safety in the home is now possible. Education is key to implementation. Good Luck !

Can a sprinkler system be installed in a home that is subject to freezing temperatures? When a home is closed up for the winter and heat is turned off it gets well below freezing inside. And this same home has a well for the only water supply. Can we make the sprinkler system work in these conditions?

It’s great that plumbers are intrested in installing NFPA 13D sprinkler systems.

Just a reminder that some locations, like in the State of Illinois, require the systems to be designed by a NICET certified designer or a PE though the installation can be done by a plumber.

Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction
101 Sea Hero Road
Suite 100
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-573-0364
Fax: 502-573-1057
E-mail: mike.powers@ky.gov

James McKinney – email the person above and ask him, this is the Kentucky state department in charge of Fire Sprinklers. This should be a good jumping off point.

Bill, the 2007 NFPA 13d code book is only 30 some odd pages, learn it inside and out.

Focus your formal education on what is enforced in the cities or counties where you will be working.

If you are trying to become inspectors, you too need to be talking with people in your State’s (OH & MI) Fire Marshals Office. Where I’m at, in Washington State every county and city have their own input on the things they require over and above the NFPA13d code. Talk to those folks first, find out if they have uniformity on their requirements of the code, or if it is like mine.

Talk to your local Fire Marshal and Fire Chiefs.
These are to heart and soul of the industry. Find out what they want from inspections in your area.

As far as formal inspectors schools, I’m sorry I do not know of any.

To be honest, I work with an installing company that installs only pex piped, multi-purpose sprinkler systems. We have to have meetings with every Fire Marshal and Fire Chief in every new area we work. Most have never seen the type of systems we install. We get to “teach”, in a way, our inspectors. These folks are VERY experienced in fire sprinklers, but not in 13D multipurpose systems. They are surprised how simple and efficient these systems are. Initiating and Maintaining a good relationship with these guys and gals is vital to the success of our company.

One thing you will need is knowledge of fire sprinkler layout. You will need the equivalency of a NICET level 1 sprinkler layout certification. (this covers NFPA 13D only)This will at least give you enough background to make the call if want to pursue this further.
Check with AFSA or NFSA and see what they offer in your area.

I hope this helps.

Yes! I am a “supporter” of residential sprinkler systems and I have over the last 9 months been trying to pass a “new” state law here in the State of Texas that requires automatic fire safety suppression systems (sprinkler systems) in ALL “NEW” residential home construction, but Texas is one of those states that does not believe in “progress”.I have contacted every state “agency” on this issue and (which does not “surprise” me down here) Texas legislators would rather spend time and money on “issues” that they can not control or want to spend $5 to go after $1. Typical Texas “politics”.
It is amazing to me that 16 states in the United States require or mandate residential sprinkler systems in all “new” home construction, but Texas is like the “turd that won’t flush down the toilet” when it comes to fire safety “progress” for the 21’st century.
Down here in the good “ol’e Lone Star” state the attitude towards something like this is that “as long as my home doesn’t burn, I do not care” If some one dies in a residential fire the “attitude” down here is that “I pray for the family” or some other “religious” B.S. or “That’s just how we do things down here ya’ll” and it is “true” I live here in San Antonio, Texas and we have this “fire problem” here all the time, but from our city “government” to our state “government” no one wants to “step-up to the plate” on making Texas home “safer” by mandating residential sprinkler systems in Texas homes.
You would think that Mr. Rick Perry (Texas governor) would pass a state law on this, but unfortunately Mr. Perry’s “interest” is not on residential home safety, his “intrest” is about money.Especially since the state mansion was nearly burned down.You would think that Mr. Perry would have a different “attitude” about fire safety.
Also! Texas is “naive” when it comes to this type of topic(s)on fire safety and as one senator had told me “That if Texan’s are too “lazy” to change a battery and test a smoke detector whether it is a battery operated or “hard-wired” one,do you think that they would “test” a residential sprinkler system? And yes! Texas is a “lazy” state, but at what level does it have to get before and how many more “bodies” does it take for the State of Texas to “wake-up”?

Is there anyone in the Texas state legislator that “supports” a state law on residential sprinkler systems? The only thing that is “mandatory” under Texas state law is smoke detectors and that has been “law” since 1981 and the “revised” “Madla’s Law” which closes the “grandfather” clause in the law for homes that were built before September 1, 1981 when Texas’s “smoke detector” law went into effect ( Section 92-252 of the Texas “Health and Safety” Code effective September 1, 1981).
Now forward 28 years later (2009)Texas should have law like this NOW for residential sprinkler systems.

Mark,
Item 1: The beauty of a well designed Home Fire Sprinkler System is that the home owner does not have to remember to do anything. In a multipurpose sprinkler system, the toilets get their water service from the sprinkler plumbing. If they shut off the sprinkler, they shut off the toilets(not very likely). The only maintenance that needs to be done is the check if the fire bell is working. If the homeowner does not do this, it will not have any effect on the sprinkler system working. (At worst, the bell may not work.)

Item 2:The most common sprinkler head in use today is of the concealed type, it has a 1/4″ profile and a 3″ circle on the ceiling is all you see. While not vandal proof, it puts an end to the type of mistake with a ball that you describe.

Item 3:Mandatory sprinkler systems is a very well thought out item. Construction control is NOT the answer.

CONTENTS of a house is what ignites and burns in almost ALL home fires, not the structure. From ignition to flashover in about three minutes. Between carpet, flooring, upholstery, window coverings, and furnishings, it is what we put in our home is what supplies the fire load. At the point of flashover, nobody is alive in that room anymore. Again, this is only three minutes. Only at the flashover point does it even become a structure fire.
How a house is constructed will not change this,and can not protect its owners from fire.

But a sprinkler system can prevent flashover, by putting water on the fire before it gets lethal. This gives time for escape, to save lives.

Just read the thread above. It is hard to believe the resistance to fire protection. So many tragedies can be saved by a single sprinkler.

I had no idea we were so progressive.

Good Luck with the politicians down there.

Kitchen fires question.

If a high percentage of residential fires start in the kitchen stove-tops from burning cooking oil, for example, and sage advice from NFPA and other sources say do not use water to put out those fires, why is the use of fire sprinklers considered safe and effective for these fires?

I have a hard time coming to terms with that logic. Can anyone throw some light on this?

Thanks

I have a residential home for Sr. Adults in Munford, Al. Do you install in this area? I need an estimate. You can e-mail me.

Thanks,
Linda

Being NICET IV certified in fire sprinkler layout, I have lots of experience, I want to throw just a little cold water onto the “I want to get into the business of installing fire sprinklers” enthusiasm. For 13D systems it is possible for HVAC companies to do the job but there are a few things they better be aware of before they embark down the path of being an installation company.

You better know what you are doing and you better do it right. If there is a fire and loss of life in a home that does have sprinklers you better believe there will be lawyers and if you didn’t do the job right it won’t be pretty.

For example using a Viking Freedom HSW (VK460) to cover a 12′-0″x22′-3″. In this configuration we would need 38 gpm @ 42.9 psi at the head. I would venture a guess, once considering head loss for back flow prevention devices, valves, pipes, fittings and height less than half of the city water systems in the country will supply the kind of pressure needed to make this work.

1″ CPVC might sound like a good size pipe but at 38 gpm the friction loss through a total of 100′ equivalent pipe length exceeds 22 psi. A total equivalent length of 100′ is very easy to get and with an 8′ height ceiling (3.5 psi), end sprinkler pressure (42.9 psi) and 22 psi friction loss we’re at 68.4 psi without calculating a loss through back flow and meter devices. I will bet more than half the towns in the USA are unable to provide 68 psi required (much less the 70 to 80 psi should we add in underground, back flow preventers etc).

If there is a fire with loss of life there could be a case for negligent homicide if the job wasn’t done right.

If you want to do it that’s fine with me but you better do it right.

Hello,

I am looking to start a residential sprinkler company. I am a Carpenter by trade and interested in more information regarding training and certification in PA.

Thank you in advance for your time,

Bill C Scharr

But what do you do when the City pressure exceeds the maximum allowable for the plumbing fixtures? My Local Fire Department will not allow us to regulate the systems. Also how do we get around the alarm requirements some jurisdictions won’t wave? If we do a combo system this could be a concern

Thanks for the help

There in lies the problem. Every regulating device typically used for a home has a maximum flow that is LESS than the typical sprinklers demand, not to mention the friction loss thru them. When you combine domestic demand and fire sprinkler demand the flow exceeds that which the regulating device is designed/approved for so the FD won’t allow them. What is needed is a high flow GPM PR valve in 1″ – 1-1/4″ size. This, in our area, than requires a stand alone system

to john campbell
for coming into the home i would tee off the domestic line installing your pressure reducing valve for domestic and use back to back checkvalves with a drain for your sprinkler system. i do this alot in the mountains because of height differrences between city water and building locations and it has never been an issue with any inspectors ive worked with.
and for nathan cpvc sprinklers systems can hold 175 for life and theyre burst is 350 and this is in residential where as commercial is typically steel would definatly handle higher pressure amounts. i would worry more about installations. if not installed properly the pipes will shift and can cause damage to the buildings and all other trades as well,being that pump trucks will put the pressure on almost instantaniously where as pumps are gradual.

As housing development sprawls from the core city, the fire department wants a maximum seven minute response time. That has spurred tax increases on everybody so these people who want their house in the boonies can have fire protection. Often with driveways that a fire truck cannot negotiate. It is time that all new houses and remodeled houses have sprinkler protection! They save lives, property and tax dollars.

I run a small plumbing company in SC. I have a commercial and residential license. It seems not a week goes by that a different builder asks me to get “certified” to install residential sprinkler systems. What do I need need to do? With a commercial license, an I already certified to install these systems?

Thank you,
Alan

My name is Jim Stillman, son of Timothy Stillman who worked tiredly to push for home fire sprinkler systems in all residential homes. He was the first to fully sprinkler his home in Florida in the 60’s. He made it his life’s work & pushed the NFPA as well as others on the matter until his death in 1992. While he may be gone there are others who believe his vision may become a reality as many jurisdictions & even states are looking into laws for home fire sprinkler systems in new home construction. I have decided to put my other fire fighting causes on hold to push fire organizations, those who govern, & anyone who will listen that this may become a reality soon & that homes may have sprinkler systems as most have smoke detectors today as my father always preached. “Why just have a smoke detector in your home that warns you about a fire when you can have a sprinkler system that will put it out” (Tim Stillman) I would be happy to talk with anyone trying to get requirements & educate those on home sprinkler systems. Our family appreciates all that help keep my father’s dream, & goals alive that those many may be saved from the horrible affects of fire in the place people feel most safe, their own homes. Thanks;
James F. Stillman jstillman@leadvillefire.org

Mr. Phillip on 24

A significant number of fires occur in the kitchen, and yes, water is the acceptable method to control the fire in a residential kitchen.

What you are wrestling with is a grease fire in a pan. flooding the pan with water will cause the grease to flow out and spread igniting other combustibles.

the sprinkler head will not be going off until there is a fire established, and the ceiling temperature reaches 135 to 155 °F, the normal temperatures. At that time, the grease, which is a fuel load should have been pretty well consumed, and the other stuff that is burning is begins a quenched by the water spray. The residential sprinkler system is designed to give you time to CLEAR OUT OF THE BUILDING, it may or may not extinguish the fire, but in about 90% of the cases, it will extinguish the fire. The time to clear out of the building is called life safety and it is intended to be about 10 minutes, which should be enough in most instances for the fire department to show up and the pros extinguish the fire. If you want more protection, in a higher level system, 13R or 13, instead of a 13D, with a higher application density is required.

if you happen to have installed n upscale commerical kitchen grille, stove, oven applicances in your kitchen, which most model codes prohibit, then your kitchen is then considered a commercial design and a commercial extinguishing system is needed, that also shuts of the energy source, namely the gas or electic at the same time as the activation.

We installed a system in our new house 5 years ago. Unfortunately for us our “Professional”
contractor went out of business. So the other day one of our heads fell off the end of the pipe. Not enough glue on the pipe to hold the head on. Lots of water damage. Lot of water.
So my question is this. At what pressure should the system be tested before filling with water again? I don’t trust any of the connections in the house anymore and I don’t have any recourse against the licensed contractor that went out of business. Any thoughts?

I have a question for everyone. I you read the report you remember the pie chart. 79% o all fire occur in residential structures. hat is an impressively large figure. That could be worrisome. However, there is information that we do not have to go along with that statistic. That 79% figure is meaningless unless we know the breakdown as to the percentage of actual residential structures in the country. If fifty percent o the countries structures are considered residential then 79% fires would be o concern. However, if eighty percent of the countries structures are considered residential then the figure of 79% is right in the ball park. If that was true we could then say that residences are safer than commercial buildings as commercial buildings have sprinklers and still have relatively the same number of fires.

Something to think about before getting all worried about that 79% number.

Will this post stay posted?

The best way to avoid fire is not to create “FIRE”.

*Always secure that children can’t reach any fire paraphernalias.

**Avoid overloading of appliances.

***If accident exist, you should have smoke detector to give you the alarm.

Cheers

I have been wrestling with the idea of mandating residential fire sprinklers for awhile now. I do notice that most of the people pushing this idea are clearly connected to the business or industry of installing them, ergo they have the most to gain from a mandate. As a professional full-time firefighter, having seen people who have died from smoke inhalation to direct fire exposure, I can say that it is a gruesome death (but no worse than many of the car wrecks I have seen). I cannot justify requiring these to be installed in new construction. Proper construction including firewalls, smoke detectors, and fire breaks can afford someone the same time to get out of the house in case of fire. Most deaths in a residential structure fire come from smoke inhalation. If the fire starts low, as in an electrical outlet, then to a Christmas tree, then up the blinds, the smoke will far surpass the fire in heat at the ceiling (yielding the heads not activating but the house is still full of black acrid smoke). The end result is that if a person is in the room with the fire, say asleep, the sprinklers will put the fire out when it gets hot enough, but the smoke might have already killed the individual. If saving lifes is the true reason behind this, shouldn’t we be mandating that all older houses, not built to current code, be required to retrofit their house with sprinklers? I can honestly say most new houses don’t burn, not like old houses with panelling, or plaster walls. Sure most fire is the contents burning, but the point of proper drywall and construction is to keep that from spreading long enough for the smoke detectors to alert the resident and have them get outside. By the way, most of the houses I have seen burn would burn even with sprinklers because there is simply not enough water to extinguish the fire loads in these houses. What is next, having an inspector make sure that you keep your house clean and safe and that you dont pile boxes, clothes, newspapers and garbage to the ceiling? I agree with a previous post; drunk driving is more dangerous. There are certainly other ways to really improve life safety without mandating that all new construction increase cost by 5% or more. By the way, I keep hearing this 2.50$ per foot price thrown around but I have NEVER seen a real estimate for installation that came out less than three times that. Where does that number come from? It seems to me from the data I have seen that is a low-ball impossible estimate used to bait municipalities into changing current code. I would be ashamed if that was the case.

Count me out … I love sprinklers and am involved in the industry, but having the government mandate them is the lazy way for this industry to convince the public. And let’s just admit it, that depending how many county and state building boards our side can bribe to mandate, or the NAHB can bribe on their side is what is driving this market for the time being.

I have no doubt that our product and service proposition is good – I don’t need or want the government forcing the public to buy my product.

Man it seems to me that alot of this is being blown way out of proportion I mean anything is better than nothing and as for presure your only going to get about 60 to 65 psi which is a good operating presure for a plumbing system and anyhow do you realy beleave all the heads will be going off at the same time get real sprinkler guys and yes i hold a master plumbing license it dont take a rocket scientist to do this stuff just some common sence so why discourage one another ther is plenty of oppertunity for every one dont be greedy save lives

I’m a licensed sprinkler fitter. I just had a house built and the fire sprinkler system was installed by the plumbers. They did a very mediocre job. The drops were not plumb. You could tell the heads had been pulled in with channel locks. They installed one of the sprinkler heads 1″ from the wall INSIDE of my bathroom linen closet and this head is supposed to cover the entire bathroom. They installed heads too close to ceiling fans. And they insulated it with regular pipe insulation instead of plastic tenting. I have been out on too many calls where even sprinkler fitters have installed foam pipe insulation on sprinkler pipe to have it freeze up and burst over extended cold periods. And to me, true seansoned professional installers do not make these types of mistakes whether they are plumbers or pipefitters.

I have several concerns about plumbers installing sprinkler systems AT THIS POINT haven seen their way of sprinkler fitting first hand. Plumbers have a tendency, based on my experience with them on jobsites, to run their stuff wherever it is most convenient for them, in any manner they please. As sprinkler fitters we can’t do that. We have to install systems the way they were designed. We have to install them straight and plumb. We cannot install them in a way that is going to dramatically change or interfere with the hydro calcs for the building or other design criteria. We have to look at what’s going on on the ceiling, compartments, obstructions, dropped ceilings, fur downs, soffets, ceiling fans, vents, lights, vaulted ceilings. There’s just a number of things, as an installer, that you have to look at and be aware of when installing sprinkler systems… things that plumbers would not be accustomed to or take into consideration. And any of these things could have a huge impact upon the operation and life safety features of that system.

Plumbers may do their job well enough but they can’t do a sprinkler fitters job well enough. Not at this point, especially being that this is a life safety issue and not just a building trade, “lets throw some pipe in the air” issue.

They could learn these things over time and even be good at it, but as of right now, plumbers are jumping in and are ready to jump in feet first and in my opinion it is a disaster waiting to happen. Lives will be put in danger, these systems are going to start failing and insurance rates and payouts will skyrocket because of it. Then you’ll see everyone pointing fingers and it will be the plumbers who, unfortunately, take the fall.

I’m not hating on the plumbmers. In fact I came into sprinkler fitting from a plumbing background. I’m just stressing my own concerns and pointiong out something that is obvious to me. Sprinkler fitting and plumbing are not the same and in reality not even close.

I would just like to advise you plumbers if you install fire sprinkler systems: Take pride in your work and show some professionalism. And first and foremost, KNOW that this is a life safety feature and it most be installed 100% correctly.

I like this site by the way.

What we don’t need are more government mandates. We don’t have enough money to address every problem and chance of dying in a fire is extremely low. Especially if you have a smoke detector.

Did you know that you are 37 time more likely to die in a fall or from poison? You are three times more likely to die crossing a street. I have nothing against fire spriniklers but I do object to government mandates. The lack of cost benefit analysis is why we have trillion dollar federal deficits.

If you would like to see a comprehensive report on the real cost of fire sprinklers, e-mail me at rhrvah [at] aol.com. I’d be happy to send it to you and debate the idoicy of imposed mandates.

I was told by an experienced firefighter and chief that when you are asleep you cannot smell the smoke. Is this true? If it is it’s just another reason to have a sprinkler system in your home,garage etc. Would appreciate your reply, Thanks , Hank

Can you please tell me where I can find the information on becoming certified to do installations in PA

There has never been a single death caused directly by a fire within a building protected by fire sprinklers in the UK…EVER! If that is not proof that these systems save lives then I don’t know what is. They are worth every dime!

I have neen in the Fire Protection field since 1997, and am interested in starting my own Residential Sprinkler Company in Maryland but am curious to what I need to do this and where can I find the information I seek.

how do i get qualified to be an installer or what is neeted to be qualified installer in california

as far as a new home builder in Pa.,the law sucks the bag! For me a pipefitter from 1976 and a young pup in mind,I hope the Pa. law sticks.My ass will be back—-!

What type of certification if any is required to clean NOT replace commercial sprinkler heads in hotels, stores, hospitals, etc in Texas? What tools are available for this type of service? Also, I am interested in starting a business providing this type of service.

Will open Assisted Living Home and looking for sprinkler home system that will meet Texas Department of Disability and Aging specifications. Csn you help.

can i use pex for my commercial sprinkler system in new hampshire

I just had my new home sprinkled and it cost me EXACTLY $0.87 Per Square Foot. I think that is extremely affordable.

Hello all!! I just have a quick question… I am a full time firefighter (24/48) in Arlington, Texas. I was wondering if it would be possible to start up and successfully run a fire sprinkler contractor business. I have some informal “training” secondary to field experience only with commercial systems as my district is primarily industrial. I do not have a formal education in that field. I am eager to learn more about it and it is my desire to start a part time business in this field and ultimately full time upon retirement. I am very eager to do so but do not know where to start! What “formal” education do I need? A Bachellors in Fire Protection Engineering? Where can I get the education? Any help would be tremendously appreciated! Thank you very much!

I understand how impotant it is to save lives, but what about those who have no means of purchasing a sprinkler system for their homes?

A few great items here and seriously didn’t have a clue regarding any of this in the past so thank you for the awareness

I first posted on this site in 2009.
I want to mention a related topic on fire safety.
In western Canada there are thousands of bungalow houses built with full basements. These basements all have thin windows which are difficult or impossible to pass through. Often there are bars installed outside preventing an intruder.
Some years ago a fire began in such a basement and four young souls died trying to escape.The bars outside were bolted.

I remember calling the Calgary fire dept suggesting something needed to be done. I got the brush off from whomever I spoke to saying” I cannot help”

I was so happy recently to visit my granddaughter to find that her mother had replaced the four deathtrap windows with large window wells that not only are a life saver but also provide a huge amount of daylight.

Anyone interested call me 778 279 3719
Dick

I agree with you, fire is very dangerous for both property and family. So there is a need to install fire Safety equipments at every site where people live. Like I have taken fire watch security service for my Construction site. It is useful way to secure both employees and property from any harm.