Cooperative Living February 2020 - 26

CloserLook
Smart homes aren't smart
without fire sprinklers
T
oday there are many automated
options that make homes more
comfortable, energy efficient, costeffective
and safe. Typically referred to as
smart home technology, these features
may include automating control of items
such as lighting, temperature, window
shades, surveillance cameras, locks,
smoke alarms, even pet feeders. Often,
these features have smartphone apps
that allow the homeowner to control
them from anywhere.
There is one technology that is so
smart it can save the lives of everyone in
the home, including pets. It works
independently and an app is not needed:
home fire sprinklers.
Smoke alarms warn you if there is
smoke in your home, but your escape
depends on your hearing the alarm and
your ability to act on it. Fire sprinklers
are smart because they automatically
control or put out the fire quickly so
everyone can get out of the home safely.
HOW FIRE SPRINKLERS WORK
Each sprinkler has a temperaturesensitive
component, often a glass bulb
that works like a plug. If a fire starts, the
high heat from the fire, usually between
135-165 degrees, breaks the bulb,
allowing the water to flow onto the fire.
Typically, only the sprinkler closest to
the fire activates, not the entire system.
Smoke from burned food or smoking
materials can't activate the system, only
high heat.
The sprinklers are typically connected
to the household water main. Where
there is no city water supply or well
water available, a tank and pump can be
used for the water supply. Piping is
hidden behind walls and ceilings.
One or two sprinklers can usually
protect an average size room. Home fire
sprinklers are small and inconspicuous.
There are several kinds of sprinklers
made for residential use, some of which
24 | Cooperative Living | February 2020
can be hidden behind cover plates. Some
sprinkler companies will offer custompainted
options to match your home's
decor.
NEW CONSTRUCTION,
NEW HAZARDS
Fires today are faster and deadlier. A
house fire can become deadly in less
than two minutes. Why? Because most
items in our homes are made of
synthetic materials that burn quickly
and produce deadly, poisonous smoke.
There's a danger associated with new
construction homes built with
unprotected, lightweight building
materials that burn faster and fail more
quickly in a fire, collapsing in less than
half the time of older construction
material. Large open layouts (as opposed
to smaller rooms with closing doors)
also enable faster flashover during a fire.
A home fire occurs every
87 seconds,with 74% of all
fire deaths in the home.
Everyone is susceptible to these fires,
but older adults and people with
disabilities are at greatest risk.
Recent trends in U.S. housing show
that more homes are becoming multigenerational,
with around 64 million
people living together with two or more
generations under one roof. And today
67% of households own a pet. Two
minutes is not much time for everyone
to escape a deadly fire.
Home fire sprinklers are dependable.
They not only save lives; they can also
protect your property and possessions,
and limit fire and water damage. Because
of this added benefit, most insurers offer
sprinkler discounts that lower your
homeowners' premiums. 
co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living February 2020

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