Installing a fire sprinkler system into an existing home, is it worth the cost?

Emergency response time from your local fire department in the event of a house fire is an important consideration when purchasing or owning a home. If your home is more than 500 feet away from a municipal fire hydrant or more than five miles away from an 24/7 manned fire station, it might take firefighters more time than is their norm to reach your residence, perform a rescue (if necessary) and extinguish the fire. For those same reasons, it can also impact your home insurance rates.

​The benefits of fire sprinkler systems in commercial settings have been long established, with fire code regulations within U.S. and internationally in place for commercial buildings for many decades. However, fire code regulations for single-family homes are a somewhat recent development. Residential fire sprinkler systems have been required for new single-family home construction in California since 2011.

Some facts about fire sprinklers you may not know or have thought about:

• Fire sprinklers use significantly less water to extinguish a fire than would be used by the fire department.
• Newer sprinkler heads are designed to activate independently of each other. In homes equipped with fire sprinklers, 90% of fires are contained by the operation of a single sprinkler head.
• Fire sprinklers are triggered only by temperature that surpasses a certain heat threshold, making it practically impossible to trigger them accidentally.
• There are recessed and concealed sprinkler heads on the market that are relatively small diameter and blend-in aesthetically with the ceiling. The smooth cover-plate, which can separately painted, drops off as part of the trigger mechanism.

Recessed Sprinkler Head with Aesthetic Cover

• In rural areas, it may take a long time for firefighters to reach you, whereas a sprinkler system responds almost immediately.
• Fire sprinklers respond automatically without the need for someone to call the fire department, which can make a significant difference in the amount of fire damage that is done if nobody was at home at the time.
• Working residential fire sprinklers control fires 96% of the time, according to the National Fire Sprinkler Association. When they are present, people are 81% less likely to die in a home fire and property damage is reduced by about 70%.
• Fire sprinklers can help keep fire from spreading to neighboring property or forested areas, reducing your liability.
• Insurance premiums could be 15% to 20% lower for homes equipped with fire sprinklers, which helps to pay for the system.

While it easier and less costly to install a sprinkler system while the home is being constructed (estimated to about $2 per sprinkled square foot or around 1% to 2% of the total cost of a new home) existing homes can be retrofitted. It is more expensive to install a system into an existing home. Some of the factors impacting installation costs are:

• Sprinkler systems that are integrated into the existing house water distribution plumbing will be cheaper than installing a stand-alone system requiring separate plumbing.
• Installing using CPVC or PEX (non-metallic) piping is generally cheaper and easier than using copper.
• Homes that depend upon private wells rather than municipal water systems may require upgrades, such as the installation of a booster pump to ensure adequate water pressure and volume.
• Installing sprinkler heads in basements or crawlspaces add to the sprinkled square footage.
• Homes in communities that have had fire sprinkler ordinances in place for more than five years tend to have more competition and better prices.

​While pricey, I recommend that homeowners consider installing a fire sprinkler system using a qualified professional. It could be worth it just to improve your peace-of-mind regarding the protection of your home, family, tenants or other occupants (pets), your personal property, and possible place of business. Talk to your home insurance company about premium discounts that might apply. Plus, talk to your real estate agent on how installing a fire sprinkler system could perhaps increase the future market value of your home.