The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has launched the Fire Sprinkler Initiative: Bringing Safety Home. The Fire Sprinkler Initiative will provide materials and resources to people and organizations working to encourage the adoption of requirements for automatic fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes.
Currently, 80 percent of fire deaths occur in the home, killing nearly 3,000 people each year. The Fire Sprinkler Initiative is dedicated to saving lives through the use of this proven technology. Homes with automatic fire sprinklers and working smoke alarms reduce the risk of an occupant dying in a fire by 82 percent.
“The Fire Sprinkler Initiative will make available important tools that can be used by people working on the front lines to get sprinkler requirements passed in their communities,” says NFPA President James M. Shannon. “For years, NFPA has been a strong supporter of home fire sprinklers through our public education and code development efforts. In this campaign, we’ve taken the next step to support public safety advocacy and help save lives.”
The Fire Sprinkler Initiative will include a variety of proven and effective ways that home fire sprinkler advocates can communicate the impact and importance of sprinkler requirements. The Initiative’s Web site (www.firesprinklerinitiative.org) will be the source of materials advocates can use when talking to community leaders, elected officials, and others to get home sprinkler requirements in place, either through ordinances or adoption of model safety codes.
A discussion forum will be hosted on the Web site, where advocates from the across the country will be able to share helpful information about the home fire sprinkler movement and encourage adoptions in their communities. The Initiative will also incorporate social networking sites to help the fire service and other advocates stay connected as never before. In addition, NFPA’s regional staff will provide support to help put in place local and statewide sprinkler requirements.
“The launch of this campaign could not come at a more critical time,” says Maryland State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard. “We need to bring a higher level of fire safety into new homes–not only for ourselves, but for future generations. This campaign will help spur public safety advocates to make home fire sprinkler adoptions a reality.”
“Coordination and support from The Fire Sprinkler Initiative will help the fire service community and sprinkler advocates across the country increase safety for both our residents and fire service personnel,” says Park Forest (IL) Fire Chief Robert Wilcox. “Sprinkler requirements can be implemented and they will save lives.”
