For residents in Massachusetts, homeowners insurance is vitally important in case of loss due to fire or other covered perils. However, the installation of fire sprinklers is an important step that homeowners can take to reduce the risk of harm from fire in the first place.

According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), and the International Code Council (ICC), the installation of fire sprinklers in residential homes greatly reduces the risk of death and property damage due to fire.

The rates of death and of property damage from fire in homes with sprinklers were 83% and 69% less (respectively), than in homes without sprinklers, according to NFPA data.

Unlike smoke alarms, fire sprinklers respond to the heat of fire and not to smoke. Sprinklers also operate individually over the area of the fire and not throughout the whole building. This helps to reduce the risk of fire spreading, and may also provide occupants with enough time to vacate. Sprinklers also reduce the amount of water required by fire fighters to put out fires.

The ICC recommends that fire sprinklers be mandatory in new residential homes. However, existing homeowners might also want to consider installing sprinklers to reduce their risk of harm and property damage from fire. It’s also important for homeowners to keep their Massachusetts homeowners insurance up-to-date at all times in case of property damage or losses. Contact us for more information on home insurance policies.