Residential Fire Sprinklers

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Building & Fire Safety

Purpose Statement

Frequently Asked Questions

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Building & Fire Safety

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The City of Henderson's vision is to be America's premier community. To provide services and resources that enhance the quality of life for those who live, learn, work and play in our city. To provide the best public safety services and programs in partnership with our residents and businesses. This includes efficient emergency response, innovative technology, prevention programs, and coordination with other public safety agencies to ensure a safe, secure, and well-informed community. The City of Henderson supports the residential sprinkler requirement in the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) showing that we value the safety of our citizens.

picture of a house without fire sprinklers burning

House Fire
Non-sprinklered Residence

Civilian Fire Deaths
3,120 civilian fire deaths occurred in 2010,
an increase of 3.7 percent from 2009. About
85 percent of all fire deaths occurred in the
home, an increase of 2.9 percent from 2009.
NFPA Journal Sept./Oct. 2011

Ordinance Information
2009 IRC Ordinance 2885
requiring Residential Fire Sprinklers
adopted December 7, 2010 (presentation)
Effective July 5, 2011

Benefits of Sprinklers
Fewer deaths
Fewer burn injuries
Reduced pain and suffering
Reduced property damage
Reduced air pollution
Reduced water pollution
Reduced fire flow (water conservation)
Reduced risk to Firefighters
Increases resources available
for other emergencies

Resident/Owner Information

Contractor Information

Commonly asked questions about residential Sprinklers

Why have home fire sprinklers?
Home fire sprinklers automatically contain a fire, preventing it from spreading. It’s like having a fire-fighter in your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Only the sprinklers in the fire area are activated. An msnbc news report, link here, from The TODAY Show broadcast on October 14th, 2008 demonstrates the life saving benefit of residential sprinklers.

How do I take care of my fire sprinkler system?
A residential fire sprinkler system is basically maintenance free. The only testing required on a regular basis is opening the drain/test valve to check the alarm operation. The rest of the system is designed to operate properly for 20 years or more without any maintenance. Some basic precautions to safeguard your fire sprinkler system are: Avoid painting or otherwise covering the fire sprinkler heads, as that will affect their sensitivity to heat. Do not hang decorations, plants or other objects from the sprinkler or piping. Visit our inspection, testing, and maintenance page for more information.

Does every fire sprinkler head discharge water when a fire occurs?
No. Sprinkler heads are individually activated by heat, like a heat detector. Once the sprinkler head senses 135°, the standard temperature for residential heads, only that head activates. Residential fires are usually controlled with one sprinkler head.

Will there be water damage from activation of a fire sprinkler?
Yes. A residential fire sprinkler discharges about 15 gallons a minute. However, a 2½” fire-fighter's hose discharges 250 gallons a minute. With only one head activating and containing the fire water damage is a lot lower than the fire-fighter's hose line.

Are home fire sprinklers costly and difficult to install?
Home fire sprinklers use narrow piping that requires minimal water pressure to move water from the tap to the source of a fire. Home sprinklers require less water to operate than those in industrial or commercial establishments. In general, the cost of installing sprinklers in a new home is approximately 1% - 1.5% of the total cost of the home. Older homes can be retrofitted with sprinklers, but the cost may be higher than when installing them during the new home construction process.

Are home fire sprinklers good for the environment and an integral achievement toward the goal of "Sustainable Practices & Development"?
Yes. According to a groundbreaking joint research project from FM Global and HFSC on the environmental impact of fires, automatic fire sprinklers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 98%, reduce fire damage by up to 97%, reduce water usage to fight a home fire by as much as 91% and reduce water pollution.

Do's and Don'ts

Don't obstruct sprinkler heads
Don't hang anything from the sprinkler heads
Don't paint the sprinkler heads or cover plates
Don't hit or tamper with the sprinkler heads
Don't change the setting of the pressure relief valve
because this is set at the time of system acceptance
Do check your system annually
Do obtain a copy of your system plans from COH DSC records
Do keep access to the main water control valve clear at all times
Do call a licensed fire sprinkler contractor if a head needs to be replaced

Related External Websites
The following links are provided as a
resource and are intended for
informational purposes only.
Content provided is not guaranteed nor endorsed.