Fire Sprinklers Save Lives.

Fire Sprinklers are an investment in the safety of high-rise residents, their families, their communities, and the firefighters who protect them.

Support Philadelphia City Council Sprinkler Retrofitting High-Rise Bill.

Know the TRUTH and FACTS about retrofitting.

  • High-rise fires do not happen every day but, when they do, they hold the potential for catastrophic consequences. The existing fire protection features in the building such as corridor walls, apartment doors, and smoke detection systems are not enough. Smoke detection systems and individual smoke alarms may notify residents that they are in danger, but these devices do nothing to stop the growth of the fire to the point where it becomes a threat to all occupants – flashover. Only fire sprinklers can control the spread of a fire and prevent flashover - saving lives!

  • Not demolition! Supply piping is connected to existing standpipes in the stairways and runs along the corridor wall. At each unit, a small hole is drilled through the corridor wall to allow a pipe to be extended into that unit. Piping is then run along interior walls, just below the ceiling. When completed, these pipes are concealed by a decorative covering, similar to crown molding.

  • Installation typically takes one day. Residents are not required to leave their unit, or to relocate. Like any renovation process, there may be disruptions, but it is up to the residents if they want to stay while the trained, professional installers do the work, or leave for the day until the installation is completed.

  • Fire sprinklers are not activated by smoke. They react only by heat and only the closest sprinkler head to the fire will go off, unlike what is depicted in the movies. Importantly, they prevent flashover — saving lives.

    FACT: 90% of structure fires, only one or two sprinkler heads activate, protecting the surrounding rooms from fire, heat, smoke and often water damage.

  • Smoke detectors only sound an alarm to let residents know there is fire danger — they can’t stop the growth of the fire or prevent the occurrence of flashover which is when it becomes the greatest threat.

  • Flashover is the near-simultaneous ignition of nearly all the combustible materials in an enclosed area.

    FACT: Flashover is UNSURVIVABLE and can occur in as little as 3 minutes.

  • Over 80% of civilian fire deaths occur in the home.

  • More than 60% of high-rise fires occur in apartments/multi-family housing.

  • Philadelphia is ranked 13th among the 100 U.S. cities with the highest home fire risk.

  • 28 people lost their lives last year in Philadelphia home fires.

  • Smoke inhalation can incapacitate you in seconds and accounts for more than 80% of fire-related fatalities.

Fire Sprinkler Facts

  • Residential fire sprinklers reduce the chance of death in a fire by over 88%

  • Fire sprinklers can reduce fire damage by up to 71%

  • Fire sprinklers can reduce water usage to control the fire by 91%

  • Fire sprinklers have been required in all new high-rises (residential & commercial) for decades

  • International Fire Code and the Life Safety code both require the retrofit of fire sprinklers in existing high-rise buildings.

Important Fire Statistics

VIDEOS

High-Rise fires can happen anywhere.

Several high-rise fires have occurred since January, resulting in the death or injury of firefighters and civilians. Click the button to see information about recent high-rise fires and to view a top 10 list of the worst high-rise fires in recent history.