Online tool assesses cost effectiveness of fire sprinklers
Gaithersburg, MD – A free online tool to help determine the costs and benefits of fire suppression sprinklers now is available through the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The tool will assist states, communities, new home builders and home buyers to determine the cost effectiveness of installing the devices. Currently, less than 5 percent of homes are equipped with sprinklers, even though the latest version of the International Residential Code – which has been adopted by more than 200 communities – has required sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings since Jan. 1.
Users of the online tool can supply their own data or rely on local statistics from the National Fire Incident Reporting System to determine fire risk, fatality and injury rates, property loss, and other figures. Users also are able to input sprinkler installation and maintenance costs, insurance information, value of the home, and other information to receive a realistic value of sprinkler installation.
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