| Location: | Rush City, MN |
| Home Type: | Single Family Modular |
| Yr Built: | 2008 |
| Sq. Ft.: | 4200 |
| Yr Sprinklers Installed: | 2008 |
| Sprinkler Cost: | $3,600 |
In August 2007, Eric and Lil Jungels lost everything they owned when their Rush City, MN home was destroyed in a fire (view Home Fire Loss Case Study). They chose to rebuild on the same site with the same 4,200 square foot single level floor plan with a full finished basement. However, this time they decided on two significant changes. This time, they had the house built with wood frame construction (the prior home was a modular build) and they had residential fire sprinklers installed.
Fire sprinkler system riser for the Jungels’ home
Fire sprinkler head in the Jungels’ home
The Jungels live in a rural area, several miles from the nearest town. They are protected by Rush City Fire Department, and fire sprinklers are not required by code. The house was built by Mell Construction and the fire sprinklers were installed as the house was being built. Action Automatic Fire Protection installed the system for a cost of about $3,600. With their previous total loss from a house fire, Eric and Lil desired the fire sprinklers to give them added protection and peace of mind.
Sidewall fire sprinkler in the Jungels’ home
Concealed fire sprinkler inside the Jungels’ home
Their home is insured by State Farm Insurance, who applied a discount to their policy after the fire sprinklers were installed. The original annual policy premium was $780, but with the discount Eric and Lil pay only $702 a year, saving a full 10%. Maintaining their system is very easy and inexpensive—Eric estimates that they will spend less than an hour a year taking care of it. While the insurance premium discount is a nice perk, the savings means little in comparison with the comfort that comes from knowing that their possessions are protected. Though Eric and Lil have lived in a home with fire sprinklers before, it was while living in a house that did not have sprinklers that fire struck. They experienced firsthand the heartbreak of losing all their precious family possessions. Now, with their home fully protected with residential fire sprinklers, they do not have to fear such a loss again.
View the details and photos of the Jungels’ house fire.
Is your home protected by a residential fire sprinkler system? If yes, we would like to know about it and feature you and your home in a case study. Download the “Installing Residential Fire Sprinklers Questionnaire” , answer the questions and return the completed questionnaire as indicated. We will use the information provided to publish a case study sharing your experience with residential fire sprinklers.
Robert
Robert November 10, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Hi,
We’re replacing our central heater and there’s a sprinkler head right above the unit. The contractor said we should keep a spare head on hand in case their work breaks it. He also said we’ll have to turn off the water supplying the sprinkler system while they work. So, would I have to call a professional to turn the supply back on and/or replace the sprinkler head (if it does need to be replaced)?
Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith November 11, 2008 at 10:29 am
Robert, as a homeowner working on your own residence you should be able to turn off the water supply for a few hours while the contractor is working. You will also most likely want to drain the system using the inspector test value so that most of the water is removed from the pipes in case of a break. If your system is monitored by an alarm company be sure to contact them first so they do not think an actual fire is occurring.
If the heating contractor is able to perform the work without damaging the sprinkler head, then you should be able to restore the water supply upon completion without trouble. Then call the monitoring company and let them know things are back to normal. If the sprinkler head is damaged by the heating contractor, then it is advisable to contact a fire protection contractor to properly replace the head and restore the water supply.
You can find a local fire protection contractor in your area at Fire Protection Source
Robert
Robert November 12, 2008 at 5:55 am
Ryan,
Thanks for your response. Man, I never even thought about the monitoring company. I’ll be sure and do that. Now, I know where the shutoff valves are. But, what does an inspector test valve look like? Should it be near the shutoffs? I’ll post photos of my setup tonight and post a link. Maybe you can spot it.
Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith November 13, 2008 at 6:37 am
Robert, I’m happy to help. An inspector test valve is used to simulate a fire sprinkler activation. This allows the inspector to flow water to ensure proper water supply and notification to the monitoring company. Ideally it should be located at the farthest point from the riser, but system designs vary so this is not always the case. The inspector test valve itself is quite simple. It’s an extension of pipe coming off the system with a valve accessible. The pipe usually ends towards the ground in an area where it is safe to flow water. Ideally there should also be a sign indicating that it is the inspectors test valve, but signs don’t always end up where they are suppose to be 🙂 I hope that helps. If in doubt don’t hesitate to call a local fire protection contractor who can walk you through your system. This knowledge will give you piece of mind for as long as you live in your home.
Steve
Steve February 6, 2009 at 7:13 am
Residential fire sprinkler systems are nothing but grief. I would never live in a home with a fire sprinkler system turned on. These systems are often home-wreckers and rarely home-savers. Anyone researching these systems and having the option not to install, I would strongly suggest not doing it.
I’ve had two houses with a system and they both had problems that damaged the house, floors, and personal property. It goes way beyond leaky heads. Consider your system a ticking water bomb (glycol too). Enjoy!
Ryan J. Smith
Ryan J. Smith February 7, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Steve, wow, based on your comments I wonder if you are representing the home builders lobby and question the truthfulness of the experiences you are mentioning. If your bad experiences are true, then you are certainly the very rare exception. Fire sprinklers have a long history of being one of the most reliable and effective safety devices ever invented. If you are willing, I would enjoy speaking with you further about your concerns.
Ibrahim Mansoor
Ibrahim Mansoor April 2, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I just bought a house that had a fire sprinkler system installed. The house was vacant during winter time, and even though it is not as cold as west here in portland, or the pipes in the ceilings cracked. The owner has come in to fix all the leaks (6 places) means six big holes in the roof. They repaired the pipes and the pressure in the pipes is back to 120. When I bought the house i had to fix the holes in the celings. But now i really concerned if this will happens again it will cause a lot of damage. Can you advice me, should I turn the sytem off. And also I thought that I can just turn the system off by turing the valve at the raiser and draining the water in the pipes through the tap under at the raiser. Once I turn the valve I can see the pressure going down to zero. And once all the water is drained from the system it should be off. I could not find any on/off for the sprinkler system outside house. We do not have any monitoring company for our fire sprinklers. Lot of questions, I will appreciate you comment. Thanks
Residential Fire Sprinklers .com
Residential Fire Sprinklers .com April 3, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Ibrahim, when a house is left vacant there are some basic precautions that should be taken for fire sprinkler systems, just like would be done for the domestic water plumbing. You may also want to have a local residential fire sprinkler contractor inspect the system to see if insulation is needed around the piping if your area is subject to freezing conditions. Regarding draining the system, you are correct that often the main drain is located near the riser. If you shut off the water supply valve and drain the system you will see the water pressure go down to zero. Just remember to restore the system with water…the most common failure of fire sprinkler systems during a fire is someone shutting off the water supply and forgetting to restore the system to proper operating conditions.
Dave Steiner
Dave Steiner April 12, 2009 at 3:44 am
While doing some research for a fire science paper I’m writing I have come across “Steve’s” comment three times on the web. I have concluded he is either 1) very unlucky and did experience a minor problem that has resulted in his expanding the truth a bit, or 2) generating propaganda for someone or some group.
Having some experience in facility management including wet, dry and foam sprinkler and deluge systems in home and industrial locations I feel qualified to say that the minor maintenance or rare inadvertent activation of a residential is clearly offset by the protection provided by these systems.
Steve, if you really did have a major problem with a home sprinkler system in two homes, I encourage you to notify the local BBB or other agency of the experience and the contractors or builders involved.
Fire sprinklers are generally credited with controlling, suppressing and in some cases extinguishing fires when installed and maintained in accordance with engineered design specifications. Despite this proven track record, some of the main reasons given by the building and construction industry for resistance in installing sprinkler systems in areas not covered by mandatory code or regulatory actions is increased construction cost and construction time. While some added expense is involved to provide and maintain fire sprinkler systems, the cost may be offset by lowered insurance rates.
Other benefits of the inclusion of sprinkler systems are reduced insurance rates and improved life and property ‘saves’ in the event of an inadvertent fire. The greatest of these benefits is of course the decreased probability of loss of life in a fire as a monetary price can not be placed on life.
Dave Steiner,
SFPE
Peter
Peter March 1, 2010 at 3:06 am
Hello.
A sprinkler head has a lead fusible link in the residential is not harmful for human being especially for the toddlers?
Please advise.
Ralph
Ralph November 7, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Peter,
It appears that noone has answered your question from March 1st. Residential sprinkler heads seldom have fusible links made with lead. Nearly all sprinklers use liquid filled glass bulbs that fracture when heated to the rated temperature. The likelyhood of illness due to lead poisoning is almost non-existant