Fire Sprinklers: Coming to a Home Near You

Fire sprinklers are usually thought of in retail and office contexts. However, their proven life- and property-saving abilities have led to their inclusion in the International Residential Code, effective in 2011. In this article, associate editor Chris Ermides looks at the positive impact of residential fire sprinkler systems in communities where they've been mandated. He also examines the way fire sprinkler heads work, the two options for sprinkler systems (one integrated with the house's plumbing and one strictly dedicated to putting out fires), and the cost of a fire sprinkler system as part of the construction of a new home (a little less than 2% of the overall construction cost).

Sound off abpit this code change in the FineHomebuilding.com blogs. Read more...