Sprinkler Fact Sheet
Why Sprinklers? Water is simply the best extinguisher for most fires. Sprinklers apply water directly to flames and heat, which causes cooling of the combustion process and prevents the ignition of adjacent combustible material. Sprinklers are most effective during the beginning stage of a fire when it is relatively easy to control. A properly installed sprinkler will detect the fire's heat, initiate alarm, and begin suppression within moments after flames appear. In most instances, sprinklers will control the spread of fire within minutes of their activation, which will in turn result in significantly less damage, both by the fire itself and the water to put it out, than would happen without sprinklers.
Many factors come into play when determining whether sprinklers are required, including the type of use, the number of people that will occupy the space, and the type of building construction. The State of Vermont Department of Labor and Industry administers this code. For more information, contact the Department's Barre office at 479-4434. Who Can Design or Install Sprinkler Systems? Sprinkler system designers and installers must be licensed by the State of Vermont Department of Labor and Industry. Some installers have designers working for them. You can get a list of licensed installers and designers by calling the Department of Labor and Industry at 479-4434 or by viewing their Web site at http://www.state.vt.us/labind/Fire/licensing.htm Will I Need Permits? Sprinkler system designs will need to be submitted to the Department of Labor and Industry for review and approval. The City of Montpelier also requires a building permit for sprinkler installations. How Much Will it Cost? Cost generally range from $1.00 to $1.50 for each square foot of the area to be sprinkled. Cost could be higher depending on the particulars of the installation such as the need to integrate with architectural detail.
Contacts
Web Sites Fire Safety Network: http://www.firesafehome.org/sprinklers/firesprinklers.asp Vermont Department of Labor & Industry: http://www.state.vt.us/labind/fpindex.htm American Fire Sprinkler Association: http://www.firesprinkler.org National Fire Protection Association: http://www.nfpa.org The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition: http://www.homefiresprinkler.org National Fire Sprinkler Association: http://www.nfsa.org Page updated June 19, 2006 |
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