NFPA Journal - Spring 2022 - 70

NFPA Research The Reports
Sprinklers were most likely
to be found in institutional
occupancies, such as nursing
homes, hospitals, and
prisons or jails.
The 7% of reported
home structure fires
that occurred in propboth
hardwired smoke
alarms and sprinklers were
present.
There are limits to even
the best fire protection.
When someone is directly
involved in the ignition
of a fire or their clothing
Fire spread was confined to the object or room of
origin in 95% of reported structure fires in which
sprinkler systems were present, a finding that is
dramatically demonstrated in side-by-side burns.
REPORT SUMMARY
US Experience
with Sprinklers
By Marty Ahrens
S
prinklers reduce the impact of fires. Compared to
reported fires in properties with no automatic extinguishing
systems (AES), when sprinklers were present,
the civilian fire death and injury rates per fire during
the period 2015-2019 were 89 percent and 27 percent
lower, respectively. The rate of firefighter injuries per fire during this
period was 60 percent lower.
From 2015 to 2019, local fire departments responded to an estimated
average of 51,000 structure fires per year (10 percent) where
sprinklers were present. These fires caused an average of 36 civilian
deaths (1 percent) and $1 billion in direct property damage (9
percent) annually. Fires in properties under construction are not
included in these numbers.
One sprinkler is usually enough to control a fire. In 77 percent of
the structure fires where sprinklers operated, only one operated. In
97 percent, five or fewer operated.
KEY
FINDINGS
NFPA.ORG/
SPRINKLERREPORT
Read the complete
" US Experience
with Sprinklers "
report.
Sprinklers are reliable.
During the period 2015-
2019, sprinklers operated
in 92% of fires in which
they were present, and
the fire was considered
large enough to activate
them. Sprinklers were
effective at controlling the
fire in 96% of the incidents
in which they operated.
Overall, sprinkler systems
operated and were effective
in 88% of the fires
considered large enough
to activate them.
70 | NFPA JOURNAL * SPRING 2022
The most common reason
that sprinklers failed to
operate was the system
being shut off at some
point before the fire.
Fire spread was confined
to the object or room of
origin in 95% of reported
structure fires in which
sprinkler systems were
present, compared to 71%
in properties with no AES.
Sprinkler presence varied
widely by occupancy.
erties with sprinklers
accounted for 1% of home
fire deaths, 5% of home
fire injuries, and 3% of
home property loss. The
civilian death and injury
rates per reported home
fire were 88% and 28%
lower, respectively, and
average property loss per
home fire was 62% lower
in reported home fires
in which sprinklers were
present compared to fires
in homes with no AES.
The rate of firefighter injuries
per home fire in which
sprinklers were present
was 78% lower than in
homes with no AES.
Compared to reported
fires in homes with no
smoke alarms and no AES,
the death rate per 1,000
fires was 89% lower when
is burning, they may be
fatally injured before the
sprinkler system operates.
If someone is physically
incapable of getting themselves
to safety, even a fire
controlled by sprinklers
can still cause harm.
Three-quarters (76%) of
the fire deaths in sprinklered
properties in all
occupancies resulted
from fires that were confined
to the object or
room of origin. This was
true for only 18% of the
deaths from fires in which
no AES was present. When
present, sprinklers keep
the fire from spreading
and threatening those in
other areas. A fire that is
confined to the room of
origin is much less dangerous
to those outside
the room.
MARTY AHRENS is manager of fire analysis services at NFPA.
http://www.NFPA.ORG/sprinklerreport http://www.NFPA.ORG/sprinklerreport
NFPA Journal - Spring 2022

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