Residential Fire Sprinklers .com

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Webinar presentation based on NFPA 13 Chapter 8 will educate designers, installers and plan reviewers on how to address special situations when designing fire sprinkler systems.

Beamed ceilings, floating clouds, layered planes, atriums sixty feet in height, concealed spaces, are all examples of special situations that most engineers and designers face at some point in their career. A new webinar has been prepared by Fire Smarts, LLC to educate fire protection designers, installers and plan reviewers across the nation on how to use NFPA 13 Chapter 8 to address these special situations. The webinar is part of the online training series offered by Fire Smarts, LLC.

The “Fire Sprinkler Design: Addressing Special Situations” webinar will be presented by fire protection industry expert, Steven Scandaliato, SET, CFPS, on March 31, 2011 at 12:00pm Eastern. During this two-hour training Mr. Scandaliato will review Chapter 8 of NFPA 13, and work through solving several real-life examples. Anyone who designs, installs or inspects fire sprinkler systems will not want to miss this very informative and interactive presentation.

Registration is open to all interested parties. For more information and to register for this webinar click on Webinar Information Page.

“The overwhelming majority of questions I am asked on a weekly basis have me referencing something in NFPA 13 Chapter 8,” said Steven Scandaliato, SET, CFPS. There have been monumental revisions added over the past few editions, along with some that are proposed in the current 2012 cycle, that every person working with fire sprinkler systems should be aware of.”

Webinar instructor, Steven Scandaliato, is a Fire Smarts Faculty member and Principal at SDG, LLC, a fire protection design and consulting company. With over 30 years of fire protection engineering, design and project management experience he holds a Level IV certification from NICET in Fire Sprinkler Layout, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist designation, and serves as a member of the NFPA 13, 101 and 5000 committees.

For more information and to register for this webinar click on Webinar Information Page. This webinar is another fire protection training opportunity through Fire Smarts online training programs.

About Fire Smarts, LLC: Fire Smarts, LLC is a leading provider of fire protection educational and training resources. The company operates the home fire protection resource website, Residential Fire Sprinklers .com, frequently publishes articles and reports on the latest industry developments and utilizes its team of Fire Smarts Faculty members to create custom training solutions for contractors, fire and building officials, and business organizations based on NFPA standards.

Webinar presentation will educate designers, installers and plan reviewers on the critical design considerations of sprinkler coverage, location and spacing in residential fire sprinkler systems.

A new webinar has been prepared by Fire Smarts, LLC to educate fire protection designers, installers and plan reviewers across the nation on how to determine proper sprinkler coverage, location and spacing in a residential fire sprinkler system to ensure proper performance in the event of a fire. The webinar is part of the online training series offered by Fire Smarts, LLC.

The “Residential Fire Sprinkler Design – Considerations for Sprinkler Location, Coverage and Spacing” webinar will be presented by fire protection industry expert, Steven Scandaliato, SET, CFPS, on February 25, 2011 at 12:00pm Eastern. During this two-hour training Mr. Scandaliato will discuss the steps involved in sprinkler layout as well as review common ceiling configurations that cause the most trouble when applying prescriptive rules. Time will also be spent examining several specific design scenarios and demonstrate how to develop solutions.

Registration is open to all interested parties. For more information and to register for this webinar click on Webinar Information Page.

“With the addition of residential fire sprinkler requirements into the International Residential Code, there is no question that these systems will become a standard component in new home construction across the country,” said Ryan J. Smith, President of Fire Smarts, LLC. “There is a need for designers, installers and plan reviews to better understand how these systems are designed to ensure cost-effective and high-quality installations.”

The “Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis” published by Fire Smarts, LLC in September 2008, projects that over 7000 additional positions for sprinkler installation, over 2000 additional positions for sprinkler design, and nearly 1500 plan reviews and inspectors will be needed as residential fire sprinkler requirements are adopted and widely enforced across the country over the next decade. An adequate amount of skilled labor is essential to ensuring that residential sprinkler systems can be properly and cost-effectively installed.

“I’ve worked in the home building and fire protection industries all my life,” said Steven Scandaliato, SET, CFPS. “Fire sprinklers are quickly becoming a standard component of new home construction and I am committed to providing education and training to make sure these systems are cost-effective and work correctly in the event of a fire.”

Webinar instructor, Steven Scandaliato, is a Fire Smarts Faculty member and Principal at SDG, LLC, a fire protection design and consulting company. With over 30 years of fire protection engineering, design and project management experience he holds a Level IV certification from NICET in Fire Sprinkler Layout, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist designation, and serves as a member of the NFPA 13, 101 and 5000 committees.

For more information and to register for this webinar click on Webinar Information Page. This webinar is another fire protection training opportunity through Fire Smarts online training programs.

About Fire Smarts, LLC: Fire Smarts, LLC is a leading provider of fire protection educational and training resources. The company operates the home fire protection resource website, Residential Fire Sprinklers .com, frequently publishes articles and reports on the latest industry developments and utilizes its team of Fire Smarts Faculty members to create custom training solutions for contractors, fire and building officials, and business organizations based on NFPA standards.

Webinar presentation will educate designers, installers and plan reviewers on the most popular hydraulic calculation methods used for sizing residential fire sprinkler systems.

A new webinar has been prepared by Fire Smarts, LLC to educate fire protection designers, installers and plan reviewers across the nation on hydraulic principals and how to perform hydraulic calculations for residential fire sprinkler systems. The webinar is part of the online training series offered by Fire Smarts, LLC.

The “Hydraulic Calculations for Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems” webinar will be presented by fire protection industry expert, Steven Scandaliato, SET, CFPS, on December 14, 2010 at 12:00pm Eastern. During this two-hour training Mr. Scandaliato will review the basic principles of hydraulics, the most popular hydraulic calculation methods and the use of each method when sizing a residential system. Significant time will be spent on using the simplified calculation methods allowed by NFPA 13D and the International Residential Code (IRC).

Registration is open to all interested parties. For more information and to register for this click on Webinar Information Page.

“With the addition of residential fire sprinkler requirements into the International Residential Code, there is no question that these systems will become a standard component in new home construction across the country,” said Ryan J. Smith, President of Fire Smarts, LLC. “There is a need for designers, installers and plan reviews to better understand how these systems are designed to ensure cost-effective and high-quality installations.”

The “Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis” published by Fire Smarts, LLC in September 2008, projects that over 7000 additional positions for sprinkler installation, over 2000 additional positions for sprinkler design, and nearly 1500 plan reviews and inspectors will be needed as residential fire sprinkler requirements are adopted and widely enforced across the country over the next decade. An adequate amount of skilled labor is essential to ensuring that residential sprinkler systems can be properly and cost-effectively installed.

“I’ve worked in the home building and fire protection industries all my life,” said Steven Scandaliato, SET, CFPS. “Fire sprinklers are quickly becoming a standard component of new home construction and I am committed to providing education and training to make sure these systems are cost-effective and work correctly in the event of a fire.”

Webinar instructor, Steven Scandaliato, is a Fire Smarts Faculty member and Principal at SDG, LLC, a fire protection design and consulting company. With over 30 years of fire protection engineering, design and project management experience he holds a Level IV certification from NICET in Fire Sprinkler Layout, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist designation, and serves as a member of the NFPA 13, 101 and 5000 committees.

For more information and to register for this webinar click on Webinar Information Page. This webinar is another fire protection training opportunity through Fire Smarts online training programs.

About Fire Smarts, LLC: Fire Smarts, LLC is a leading provider of fire protection educational and training resources. The company operates the home fire protection resource website, Residential Fire Sprinklers .com, frequently publishes articles and reports on the latest industry developments and utilizes its team of Fire Smarts Faculty members to create custom training solutions for contractors, fire and building officials, and business organizations based on NFPA standards.

Training seminar being presented on October 13th in Horsham, PA and on November 3rd in Bird in Hand, PA will educate participants on the NFPA 13D and IRC P2904 requirements for designing and installing fire sprinklers in one and two family homes, including townhomes.

A live 1-day residential fire sprinkler training seminar has been prepared by Fire Smarts, LLC on behalf of the Pennsylvania Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PA-PHCC) to educate participants in Pennsylvania on the IRC P2904 and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13D standard that covers the installation of sprinkler systems in one and two family homes. This training qualifies for 7 CEC hours as recognized by the PA Department of Labor and Industry.

This Residential Fire Sprinkler 1-Day Training will be presented by fire protection industry expert, Steven Scandaliato, SET, CFPS, on October 13th in Horsham, PA and on November 3rd in Bird in Hand, PA. Mr. Scandaliato will educate participants on how IRC P2904 applies to multipurpose residential sprinkler systems and provide a chapter-by-chapter discussion on the NFPA 13D standard to gain an understanding of water supply requirements, system layout options, system component requirements and best practices for residential fire sprinkler systems.

“With the recent addition of residential fire sprinkler requirements into the International Residential Code, there is no question that these systems will become a standard component in new home construction across the country,” said Ryan J. Smith, President of Fire Smarts, LLC. “Pennsylvania was the first state to adopt these new requirements and now proper training is critical to ensure that these life safety systems are designed and installed correctly.”

The “Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis” published by Fire Smarts, LLC in September 2008, projects that over 7000 additional positions for sprinkler installation will be needed as residential fire sprinkler requirements are adopted and widely enforced across the country over the next decade. An adequate amount of skilled labor is essential to ensuring that residential sprinkler systems can be properly and cost-effectively installed. This applies to sprinkler system designers, installers and the fire/building officials responsible for enforcing the code requirements.

“There is a lot of interest by PHCC members in this new market,” said Skip Pfeffer, PHCC’s National President. “We cannot afford to lose this market—especially in the current economy. I encourage all PHCC members and potential members to participate.”

Training registration is open to all interested parties. For more information and to register visit
http://www.paphcc.org or contact Elaine Hoffman at 717-541-9109. This event is part of PA-PHCC’s commitment to provide quality training to the plumbing industry.

About Steven Scandaliato, SET, CFPS: Steven Scandaliato is a Fire Smarts Faculty member and Principal at SDG, LLC, a fire protection design and consulting company. With over 29 years of fire protection engineering, design and project management experience he holds a Level IV certification from NICET in Fire Sprinkler Layout, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist designation, and serves as a member of the NFPA 13, 101 and 5000 committees.

About PHCC: The PHCC – National Association is the oldest trade association in the construction industry and the premiere organization for the plumbing, heating and cooling professional. Since 1883, PHCC has been the leader in promotion, advancement, education and training. Today PHCC has more than 4100 contractor members from open and union shops, who work in the residential, commercial, new construction, industrial and service and repair industry segments.

About Fire Smarts, LLC: Fire Smarts, LLC is a leading provider of fire protection training and educational resources. The company operates the home fire protection resource website, Residential Fire Sprinklers .com, frequently publishes articles and reports on the latest industry developments and utilizes its team of Fire Smarts Faculty members to create custom training solutions for contractors, fire and building officials, and business organizations based on NFPA standards.

On September 21, 2008 the International Code Council (ICC) adopted amendment RB64-07/08 to the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC). This amendment mandates that beginning January 1, 2011 all new one and two family residential dwellings along with townhomes be equipped with fire sprinklers.

First and foremost, I have to admit that I’m a passionate fire and life safety guy who believes these changes are long overdue. The fact of the matter is that the fire losses in the United States are staggering in terms of the lives and property we lose each year. Because the losses occur in one’s and two’s every day, rather than a few catastrophic events each month, they go largely ignored by the national media and under the radar of most Americans. Over a decade ago I heard a keynote speaker address a sprinkler trade association’s annual convention where he noted that the national yearly losses caused by fires in single family dwellings alone is the same number of people we would lose if two 747 jet airliners collided over the U.S. every month. He asked rhetorically if we thought there would be a change in the way flights were scheduled or flown if that actually happened twice in a year, let alone every month for years. You could have heard a pin drop.

In my twenty plus years lobbying for and promoting fire sprinkler installations, I’ve heard opponents talk about the cost versus the benefit and focus on the fact that today’s construction is safer than older homes with more electrical outlets and better circuit breakers, etc. Let’s be clear and factual, the three greatest causes of fires in the home are men, women and children. Yes, there are electrical fires and they account for about 15% of fire ignition sources according to statistics. However, unattended candles, smoking materials and cooking equipment account for the lion’s share of ignition sources; In other words people driven, not mechanical.

At some point along the way, society accepted the fact that we were going to wear a seat belt while driving our cars. Many of us hated that and some people still don’t buckle up today.

Regardless, our laws caught up with the financial reality that way too many people were dying or injured beyond where they would be had they just buckled up. The cost was too great not to impose this new law in the face of proven factual data. There can be no mistake that we are at the same point with residential fire sprinklers and all of the fighting, legal wrangling and attempts to roll-back the codes to avoid accepting the inevitability of this new mandate are ridiculous. Fifty years from now, no one will want to live in a home without fire sprinklers.

Pennsylvania has been a leader in this effort, becoming one of the first states to adopt the 2009 IRC, which includes the residential fire sprinkler requirements that will take effect January 1, 2011. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) have made several attempts to block the sprinkler requirement. When voted on by the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) Review and Advisory Council the sprinkler requirements were upheld. Further legislative attempts by NAHB and PBA have been denied. The latest attempt is PBA’s filing of an application for summary relief which will be heard during a June session. Despite these attempts, the 2009 IRC is in effect today in Pennsylvania and the residential fire sprinkler requirement is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2011.

Realistically, we should expect the majority of these systems to be plumbing systems as opposed to stand alone fire sprinkler systems in the traditional sense of the term. By that I mean that many piping systems will be multipurpose piping systems supplying water to plumbing fixtures and fire sprinkler nozzles, through a shared plumbing system. As such, the work is more likely to be performed by the residential plumbing contractor than a stand-alone fire sprinkler contractor.

With the current state of our economy and the market conditions, most plumbers will be happy to accept the challenges and opportunities this new legislation brings to their doorsteps. But, what is it they say about no free lunches? Business related considerations such as licensing and insurance must be addressed and proper training must be obtained to ensure this work is performed correctly. Fire Smarts and Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) association are working together to deliver training programs geared to take experienced plumbers and add the skill set for residential fire sprinkler installation. As you consider this opportunity for your business invest in training to understand these systems and the codes that govern them. While these systems are pipe and fittings, there life safety application includes requirements and liability beyond typical domestic plumbing.

Bob Caputo is a Fire Smarts Faculty member with more than 25 years experience in the fire protection community. He has been an instructor since 1989, teaching seminars for NFPA and the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). He holds a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) designation, fire sprinkler contracting licenses in multiple states, and serves on the NFPA 13 Installation and NFPA 25 Committees.

Webinar presentation will educate plumbing contractors on piping and sprinkler material requirements and acceptable options for residential fire sprinkler systems.

A new webinar has been prepared by Fire Smarts, LLC on behalf of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors – National Association (PHCC) to educate plumbing contractors across the nation on the types of sprinklers and types of piping available for fire sprinkler systems. The webinar is part of the online training offered by the PHCC.

The “Types of Piping and Sprinklers for Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems” webinar will be presented by fire protection industry expert, Stephen Leyton, on May 19, 2010 at 3:00pm EST. Mr. Leyton will educate participants about the differences between commercial and residential material requirements as found in the NFPA 13/R/D standards, the acceptable residential material choices available, their preferred application, and the cost impact considerations when selecting the most appropriate sprinklers and piping type for a particular residential sprinkler system.

“With the recent addition of residential fire sprinkler requirements into the International Residential Code, there is no question that these systems will become a standard component in new home construction across the country,” said Ryan J. Smith, President of Fire Smarts, LLC. “There is a need and an incredible opportunity for plumbing contractors to assist in providing these services.”

The “Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis” published by Fire Smarts, LLC in September 2008, projects that over 7000 additional positions for sprinkler installation will be needed as residential fire sprinkler requirements are adopted and widely enforced across the country over the next decade. An adequate amount of skilled labor is essential to ensuring that residential sprinkler systems can be properly and cost-effectively installed. A growing number of industry experts agree that plumbing contractors play a critical role in the successful implementation of residential fire sprinkler code requirements.

“There is a lot of interest by PHCC members in this new market,” said Skip Pfeffer, PHCC’s President. “We cannot afford to lose this market—especially in the current economy. I encourage all PHCC members and potential members to participate.”

Registration is open to all interested parties. For more information and to register for this webinar visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/938041146 . This webinar is another residential fire sprinkler educational and training opportunity that is being offered by the PHCC in partnership with Fire Smarts.

About PHCC: The PHCC – National Association is the oldest trade association in the construction industry and the premiere organization for the plumbing, heating and cooling professional. Since 1883, PHCC has been the leader in promotion, advancement, education and training. Today PHCC has more than 4100 contractor members from open and union shops, who work in the residential, commercial, new construction, industrial and service and repair industry segments.

About Fire Smarts, LLC: Fire Smarts, LLC is a leading provider of fire protection educational and training resources. The company operates the home fire protection resource website, Residential Fire Sprinklers .com ( http://www.ResidentialFireSprinklers.com ), frequently publishes articles and reports on the latest industry developments and utilizes its team of Fire Smarts Faculty members to create custom training solutions for contractors, fire and building officials, and business organizations based on NFPA standards.

Fire Smarts seminar presentation at the PHCC West Convention in Napa Valley, CA on May 13, 2010 will educate plumbing contractors on the recent adoption of residential fire sprinkler requirements in California.

A live seminar has been prepared by Fire Smarts, LLC on behalf of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) to educate plumbing contractors on the recent adoption of the 2010 California Residential Code which includes the 2009 International Residential Code with fire sprinkler requirements. This seminar is part of the educational training being offered at the 2010 PHCC West Convention in Napa Valley, CA.

The “California Residential Fire Sprinkler Requirements” live seminar will be presented by fire protection industry expert, Stephen Leyton, on May 13, 2010 at 10:45am PST. Mr. Leyton served as Chair of the installation committee for the California State Fire Marshal’s Residential Sprinkler Code Adoption Task Group and Co-Chair of the ICC Ad-Hoc Committee on Residential Fire Sprinklers. Mr. Leyton will educate participants on the residential fire sprinkler code changes in California and provide an understanding of the process that led to these changes. Participants will also hear from Uponor and Lubrizol representatives about the piping material options being used for one- and two-family residential dwellings.

“With the recent addition of residential fire sprinkler requirements into the International Residential Code, there is no question that these systems will become a standard component in new home construction across the country,” said Ryan J. Smith, President of Fire Smarts, LLC. “There is a need and an incredible opportunity for plumbing contractors to assist in providing these services.”

The “Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis” published by Fire Smarts, LLC in September 2008, projects that over 7000 additional positions for sprinkler installation will be needed as residential fire sprinkler requirements are adopted and widely enforced across the country over the next decade. An adequate amount of skilled labor is essential to ensuring that residential sprinkler systems can be properly and cost-effectively installed. A growing number of industry experts agree that plumbing contractors play a critical role in the successful implementation of residential fire sprinkler code requirements.

“There is a lot of interest by PHCC members in this new market,” said Skip Pfeffer, PHCC’s National President. “We cannot afford to lose this market—especially in the current economy. I encourage all PHCC members and potential members to participate.”

Convention registration is open to all interested parties. For more information and to register for the 2010 PHCC West Convention visit http://www.caphcc.org/phcc-west-convention . This seminar is another residential fire sprinkler educational and training opportunity that is being offered by the PHCC in partnership with Fire Smarts.

About PHCC: The PHCC – National Association is the oldest trade association in the construction industry and the premiere organization for the plumbing, heating and cooling professional. Since 1883, PHCC has been the leader in promotion, advancement, education and training. Today PHCC has more than 4100 contractor members from open and union shops, who work in the residential, commercial, new construction, industrial and service and repair industry segments.

About Fire Smarts, LLC: Fire Smarts, LLC is a leading provider of fire protection educational and training resources. The company operates the home fire protection resource website, Residential Fire Sprinklers .com ( http://www.ResidentialFireSprinklers.com ), frequently publishes articles and reports on the latest industry developments and utilizes its team of Fire Smarts Faculty members to create custom training solutions for contractors, fire and building officials, and business organizations based on NFPA standards.

Training seminar being presented on April 27-28th in Hanover, PA and on April 29-30th in Camp Hill, PA will educate participants on the NFPA 13D and IRC P2904 requirements for designing and installing fire sprinklers in one and two family homes, including townhomes.

A live 2-day residential fire sprinkler training seminar has been prepared by Fire Smarts, LLC to educate participants in Pennsylvania on the IRC P2904 and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13D standard that covers the installation of sprinkler systems in one and two family homes. This seminar is being hosted by R.F. Fager & Company at their Hanover, PA and Camp Hill, PA training facilities.

This Residential Fire Sprinkler 2-Day Training will be presented by fire protection industry expert, Bob Caputo, CFPS, CET, on April 27-28th in Hanover, PA and on April 29-30th in Camp Hill, PA. Mr. Caputo will educate participants on how IRC P2904 applies to multipurpose residential sprinkler systems and provide a chapter-by-chapter discussion on the NFPA 13D standard to gain an understanding of water supply requirements, system layout options, system component requirements and installation tips and best practices for residential fire sprinkler systems.

“With the recent addition of residential fire sprinkler requirements into the International Residential Code, there is no question that these systems will become a standard component in new home construction across the country,” said Ryan J. Smith, President of Fire Smarts, LLC. “Pennsylvania was the first state to adopt these new requirements and now proper training is critical to ensure that these life safety systems are designed and installed correctly.”

The “Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis” published by Fire Smarts, LLC in September 2008, projects that over 7000 additional positions for sprinkler installation will be needed as residential fire sprinkler requirements are adopted and widely enforced across the country over the next decade. An adequate amount of skilled labor is essential to ensuring that residential sprinkler systems can be properly and cost-effectively installed. This applies to sprinkler system designers, installers and the fire/building officials responsible for enforcing the code requirements.

“There has been a lot of interest from our customers in the emerging residential fire sprinkler market,” said Barry Wiseman, Branch Manager of R.F. Fager & Co. “We are proud to host this event and bring this important residential fire sprinkler training to our customers and the surrounding community.”

Training registration is open to all interested parties. For more information and to register visit:

April 27-28, 2010 – Hanover, PA – http://www.firesmarts.com/training/rfs-pa-4-27-2010/

April 29-30, 2010 – Camp Hill, PA – http://www.firesmarts.com/training/rfs-pa-4-29-2010/

This training will involve extensive use of the NFPA 13D Standard. This open enrollment event is subject to minimum registration. Please do not make travel arrangements until your registration has been confirmed by Fire Smarts.

About Bob G. Caputo, CFPS, CET: Bob Caputo is a Fire Smarts Faculty member with more than 25 years experience in the fire protection community. He has been an instructor since 1989, teaching seminars for NFPA and the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). He holds a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) designation, fire sprinkler contracting licenses in multiple states, and serves on the NFPA 13 Installation and NFPA 25 Committees.

About Fire Smarts, LLC: Fire Smarts, LLC is a leading provider of fire protection educational and training resources. The company operates the home fire protection resource website, Residential Fire Sprinklers .com ( http://www.ResidentialFireSprinklers.com ), frequently publishes articles and reports on the latest industry developments and utilizes its team of Fire Smarts Faculty members to create custom training solutions for contractors, fire and building officials, and business organizations based on NFPA standards.

The concluding part of a five part series focusing on the rapidly growing residential fire sprinkler market and why plumbing contractors are best positioned to capture this opportunity.

To view part four of the series visit “Residential Fire Sprinklers: Plumbing Contractor Competitive Advantage #2“

Multipurpose residential fire sprinkler systems combine fire sprinklers with a home’s plumbing, which means that a plumber can often easily install both. And with the 2009 International Residential Code requiring sprinklers in every new home, plumbing contractors now have an opportunity to significantly increase their revenue on every one of their residential plumbing jobs.

On September 21, 2008, the International Code Council voted to mandate fire sprinklers in every new one and two-family home. According to the Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis published by Fire Smarts LLC, the sprinkler industry will require an additional 7,000 installers to meet this new demand. And although the mandate doesn’t take effect until January 1, 2011, more than 400 jurisdictions in the U.S. are already requiring residential sprinklers in new-home construction. As builders are required to install sprinklers in their homes, they’ll be looking for the systems and the contractors that best meet their needs.

As listed in the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 13D standard for the installation of residential fire sprinklers, there are two basic types of home fire sprinkler systems to choose from: multipurpose (combination) and standalone (dedicated). Standalone sprinkler systems are kept separate from a home’s plumbing by a backflow prevention device and are usually installed by a commercial sprinkler contractor. Multipurpose systems, on the other hand, deliberately integrate sprinklers into a home’s cold-water plumbing, which eliminates the need for a costly backflow preventer and enables the plumber, who’s already on the jobsite, to also install the fire sprinklers.

ADVANTAGES OF MULTIPURPOSE SYSTEMS
For the HOMEOWNER, a multipurpose system means no backflow preventer and/or check valve, which eliminates the maintenance and inspection costs of those devices. A multipurpose system also offers homeowners peace of mind, since each time they turn on a cold-water plumbing fixture, they know fresh water is also available to their fire sprinklers.

For the BUILDER, specifying a multipurpose system means that the trusted, licensed plumber can also install the fire sprinkler system while on the job site. This means that the builder doesn’t have to worry about establishing a new relationship with another contractor and doesn’t have to be concerned about scheduling another trade on the job.

For the PLUMBING CONTRACTOR, whether installing PEX (cross linked polyethylene) or CPVC plumbing, a multipurpose system means an opportunity to make more money on every job by basically extending the plumbing into the ceiling and attaching fire sprinklers.

AS “EASY” AS PLUMBING
Multipurpose fire sprinkler systems use the same tubing (usually PEX or CPVC), fittings and tools that a plumbing contractor already uses to plumb a house. So, with some thorough, comprehensive basic training, the plumber can start making more money on every job. With a multipurpose system, the general installation process is straightforward:

1. House plans and some details on the home’s incoming water supply are provided by the contractor or home builder to a qualified sprinkler designer. That designer will use hydraulic calculation software to determine the layout of the fire sprinklers.

2. Securely run tubing (usually PEX or CPVC) in the ceilings to the designated sprinkler locations and mount threaded sprinkler fittings where indicated by the sprinkler plan.

3. Thread and properly tighten the sprinklers into the fittings.

4. Tee into the sprinkler tubing and drop down to feed the cold-water plumbing fixtures

5. Perform a simple flow test to confirm for you, and the inspector, that the system is operating as designed.

Although the basic process is pretty straightforward, every fire sprinkler installation can be unique and may require unique solutions. You may need to take into account certain considerations such as ceiling obstructions that may interfere with a sprinkler spray pattern, or insulating the tubing in cold-weather locations. In any case, your fire sprinkler layout designer and your system manufacturer can help you with any questions and concerns. And a system flow test after completing the job ensures the system is operating as designed.

In most states, it’s quite simple for a plumber to become a licensed residential fire sprinkler contractor. In some cases, however, licensing rules can make it very challenging for a plumber to install fire sprinkler systems. In these states, your options are to either meet the requirements to become a licensed fire sprinkler contractor, or work to change the licensing rules. In all cases, be sure to check with your local and state authorities to understand your jurisdiction’s licensing requirements and ensure that you are allowed to install sprinkler systems.

With lower material cost, ease of installation and reduced maintenance requirements, multipurpose systems have the competitive advantages needed to become the preferred system type in residential fire sprinkler installation. And, with multipurpose systems supplying both the domestic water and the fire sprinkler water, the plumbing contractor is the logical choice to professionally install these systems.

This concludes the five part article series focused on highlighting the residential fire sprinkler opportunity for plumbing contractors. Fire Smarts LLC, in partnership with the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) is developing resources and training programs specifically tailored for plumbing contractors to enter the residential fire sprinkler market.

Jayson Drake is a Fire Smarts Faculty member and Senior Product Manager for Uponor’s North American fire safety business. Uponor (formerly Wirsbo) is a leading manufacturer of PEX-based multipurpose residential fire sprinkler systems. Jayson has an engineering degree from Iowa State University and a MBA from the University of Minnesota. Jayson is actively involved in educational and training efforts to support installing contractors.

By BARBARA S. WILLIAMS – The Post and Courier

The good news is that a misguided attempt to reverse last year’s hard-fought national building code mandate for fire sprinklers in new residential construction has gone down to overwhelming defeat. It’s safe to say that when the committee and floor votes were taken late last month, no one in the Baltimore, Md., audience of several thousand was more elated than S.C.’s State Fire Marshal John Reich.

Reich describes the International Code Council’s reaffirmed commitment to the residential sprinkler mandate as ‘fantastic.’ Now, the question is whether homebuilder opposition to the mandate can be overcome at the state level. Expect to wait much of next year for the answer.

The prolonged process for adopting a new national building code in this state says the 2009 code won’t be up for approval until the middle of 2010. The comment period will end Dec. 2 and hearings will be conducted for another six months. It would then be up for approval by the S.C. Building Code Council. If there are no hitches, the new sprinkler mandate could go into effect as scheduled in January 2011.

But Reich is realistic enough to recognize that the homebuilder opposition that was recently thwarted at the ICC gathering in Baltimore will re-emerge in the state adoption process. While he appreciates the need to keep increases in construction costs at a minimum, he contends that the savings in lives and property to be gained by the $2 per square foot cost of sprinklers in single and two-family homes should be ‘a no brainer.’ According to Reich, some 400 communities already have new residential sprinkler requirements.

Among those is Prince George’s County, Md., which has had such a requirement in place for 15 years. A recent study of the results by sprinkler advocacy groups along with the University of Maryland shows that of the 13,494 house fires during that period, there were 101 deaths and 328 injuries in homes without sprinklers.

In homes that were sprinkler protected, there were no deaths and six injuries. During that time, sprinklers were activated 245 times in homes where 446 people were present. Property loses in sprinkler protected homes were said to be cut dramatically.

No one knows the value of sprinklers more than city of Charleston Fire Chief Thomas Carr, who formerly was chief of the Columbia County, Md., fire department, which was among the pioneers in the sprinkler mandate. He took over the reins of the Charleston Department after the deaths of nine firefighters more than two years ago in the horrific Sofa Super Store fire where, according to investigators, sprinklers could have saved lives. Unlike residences, most commercial properties are required to have sprinklers. The Sofa Super Store predated that mandate.

That tragedy, along with a fire at a North Carolina beach house where seven S.C. college students lost their lives, finally got legislative attention. The beach house had working smoke detectors but no sprinklers. But rather than strengthening old and imposing new sprinkler mandates, lawmakers passed an incentive package that has yet to implemented in any South Carolina community.

Carr’s plan to take that package to City Council this fall has been delayed until early next year, but he made it clear through a spokesman that it is no less a priority.

Four Charleston firemen were among the 71 S.C. fire and building inspection officials in Baltimore last month working to keep the ICC’s residential sprinkler mandate in place. According to reports, only a two-thirds vote at a May ICC conference can remove the mandate from the national code, now considered virtually impossible.

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