Should Your Small Business Have Fire Sprinklers?

Fire sprinkler on the ceiling.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were 129,500 fires in nonresidential buildings in 2022, resulting in more than $3.7 billion in losses.4 Automatic fire sprinklers have been in use since 1874. However, differences in the rate of installation of sprinkler systems between different industries result in preventable fire losses and deaths.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that the installation rate for fire sprinkler systems can be as low as 25% for stores and offices, compared to 80% for nursing homes and 71% for hotels and motels.3

How Do Fire Sprinklers Work?

Fire sprinklers are systems of pressurized pipes running through a building. Heat–sensitive sprinkler heads are placed at intervals along the pipes. When the sensor on a sprinkler head detects heat between 135 – 165 degrees F,1 that head will release water.

Only the closest sprinkler heads to the source of heat will dispense water. Fire sprinklers do not respond to smoke, and the entire building’s sprinkler system will not dispense at once.

Just one sprinkler can contain a fire. According to the American Fire Protection Association, between 2017 – 2021, sprinklers were able to control fires in 97% of instances they were activated.3

Professionally installed sprinkler systems are designed to be low maintenance, with an extremely low chance of false activations.

Types of Sprinklers

There are four types of sprinkler systems permissible by NFPA 13, Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems:6

  • Wet Pipe Systems
    The pipe is always filled with water. When the air heats up to a certain point, a glass bulb or fusible link in the sprinkler breaks, unleashing the water from that point. This type of system is the most common and appropriate for any building that will be temperature–controlled year–round to 40 degrees F or higher.

  • Dry Pipe Systems
    The water is held behind a dry pipe valve. When the glass bulb or fusible link breaks, air is released and pressure drops. This causes the dry pipe valve to open, releasing water into the pipes and to the open sprinkler head. Because of the delay in water delivery, the size of the dry pipe system must be smaller than a wet pipe system. This type of system is available for smaller buildings without year–round temperature controls that would prevent the pipes from freezing. This may also be combined with wet pipe systems to protect certain areas like attics or basements.

  • Preaction Systems
    A heat detection device triggers the release of water from a tank into the pipes. If the temperature continues to rise and activates the automatic sprinkler system, the water releases. These systems have similar size restrictions as dry pipe systems.

  • Deluge Systems
    These sprinklers have open heads or nozzles, connected to other detection devices, such as smoke alarms or heat sensors. When the system is activated, water will flow through the pipes and out of every sprinkler head. This type may be appropriate for certain high–hazard industries, but would not be the best choice for most small businesses.

Benefits of Having Sprinklers at Your Business

  • You may receive a credit on your business property insurance if your building has sprinklers.
  • The National Fire Sprinkler Association has been working with the U.S. government to introduce tax incentives to businesses that install fire sprinklers.
  • Fire sprinklers protect your business property, employees, and customers. According to the National Fire Protection Association, when sprinklers were present, fire deaths were 90% lower, and property loss by 32% lower than when there were no functioning sprinklers.2
  • Manufacturing facilities with sprinkler systems experience 8.5 times lower insurance loss costs than those without.3
  • Although your business property may still have smoke damage due to a fire, having a sprinkler system to control the blaze before it spreads can reduce your total loss and enable you to resume operations sooner.

References

  1. Facts and Figures (n.d.). American Fire Sprinkler Association. https://www.firesprinkler.org/facts-figures

  2. Home Fire Sprinklers Protect Your Family and Property (n.d.). National Fire Sprinkler Association. https://nfsa.org/benefits-fire-sprinklers

  3. Mcgree, Tucker (April 1, 2024). U.S. Experience with Fire Sprinklers. National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/us-experience-with-sprinklers

  4. Nonresidential Fire Estimate Summaries (2013-2022). U.S. Fire Administration. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/nonresidential-fires

  5. Workplace Fire Safety (n.d.). U.S. Fire Administration. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/workplace-fires

  6. Ziavras, Valerie (March 26, 2021). Sprinkler System Basics: Types of Sprinkler Systems. National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/blogs/2021/03/26/sprinkler-system-basics-types-of-sprinkler-systems

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The information contained in this article should not be construed as professional advice, and is not intended to replace official sources. Other resources linked from these pages are maintained by independent providers; therefore, NJM cannot guarantee their accuracy.