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August 2009
Fire sprinklers save lives, and NFPA is committed to doing all we can to bring this higher level of safety home.
Home fire sprinklers cut the risk of dying in a home fire by about 80 percent. Sprinkler advocates across the country have asked for a coordinated effort to encourage the use of home fire sprinklers. NFPA has launched that effort through the Fire Sprinkler Initiative®: Bringing Safety Home.
The initiative includes a variety of proven, effective ways that home fire sprinkler advocates can communicate the impact of sprinklers. Fire Sprinkler Initiative Update will provide the latest happenings each month.
Our Web site provides resources for the fire service and other sprinkler advocates who want to demonstrate the need for home fire sprinklers in their communities.
>> GET INVOLVED
Sign up to learn more about how you can save lives in your community by encouraging your local government to mandate home fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family homes.
 BLOG
The importance of public education.
>> LEGISLATIVE ALERT!
New legislation is threatening the adoption of home fire sprinkler provisions for new one- and two-family dwellings. Help stop these efforts in your community.
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ADVOCACY
Opponents use misleading percentages on survival and death—be prepared
 Fire sprinkler opponents in a number of states have been using a statistic of 99.45 percent to illustrate the effectiveness of smoke alarms in reducing home fire deaths. This NFPA statistic estimates the likelihood of surviving a home fire when a working smoke alarm is present. Taken completely out of context, a number such as 99.45 percent sounds very high. But consider this:
- The total home fire death toll of roughly 3,000 deaths a year occurs in roughly 400,000 reported home fires a year. Therefore, the likelihood of surviving a home fire is over 99 percent without regard to the presence of smoke alarms or any other fire safety provisions. Does that mean 3,000 deaths are acceptable? Most people would say no.
- Each year, there are an estimated 12,000 deaths due to falls in homes and an estimated 11 million fall injuries in the home. The likelihood of surviving a fall is 99.9 percent. Does that mean 12,000 deaths are acceptable? Most people would say no.
- Each year, there are an estimated 37,000 deaths due to motor vehicle accidents and an estimated 6 million reported motor vehicle accidents. The likelihood of surviving a motor vehicle accident is 99.4 percent. Does that mean 37,000 deaths are acceptable? Most people would say no.
- Each year, 2.4 million people die of any cause in the country compared to a total U.S. resident population of 300 million. The likelihood of surviving every hazard, threat and illness for a year is 99.2 percent. Does that mean 2.4 million deaths are acceptable— that nothing at all should be done to protect Americans from anything, especially when technology exists that could save lives? Most people would say no.
NFPA has put together a one and two page rebuttals to this misleading information. Both are available as downloads from the Fire Sprinkler Initiative website.
NEWS
USFA supports requirements for sprinklers in all new residential construction
Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn A. Gaines joined a growing list of individuals and organizations voicing support for residential sprinkler requirements in new one- and two- family homes. In a recently released message, Gaines talked about the fact that USFA has promoted research, development, testing, and demonstrations of residential fire sprinklers for more than 30 years. He further encouraged members of the fire service to stay current on what is happening in their communities regarding sprinklers and to weigh in for sprinklers whenever possible. The full statement is available on USFA’s website.
BLOG
Most Firefighter Injuries Occur Battling Home Fires
About three in five firefighters injured at the scene of a structure fire (2003-2006) were battling one- and two-family home fires at the time, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report Patterns of Firefighter Fireground Injuries, by M. Karter, Jr. In a recent blog post NFPA’s Marie Figueroa looks at this report and talks about the importance of home fire sprinklers as a way to decrease the number of firefighter injuries.
FORUM
NEW! Discussion Forum
In addition to visiting the Fire Sprinkler Initiative blog, we would like to encourage you to visit the Fire Sprinkler Initiative discussion forum,
as well. The forum is a place where we hope fire sprinkler advocates from across the county will come together to discuss ordinances and legislative activities in their area surrounding home fire sprinklers. Sign up and get the conversation going today!
Please register to become a member of the forum by clicking on the Get Involved button on the Fire Sprinkler Initiative Web site. |
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