On average, seven people a day die in home fires in the United States. Home fire sprinklers have been proven to reduce the risk of dying in such a fire by 80 percent, yet legislative barriers and a lack of knowledge surrounding the technology have limited their use.
On May 19, NFPA’s Fire Sprinkler Initiative (FSI) and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC)hope to spread positive messages about home fire sprinklers to lawmakers, the media, and the general public throughout the country—and in parts of Canada—during the first-ever Home Fire Sprinkler Day.
“The alarming number of home fire deaths and injuries each year should be on the radar of every decision maker and member of the media as well as the public,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy, and HFSC’s president. “Through this event, we hope to illuminate the fire problem and its solution on a national scale. Fire sprinklers have been a U.S. model building code requirement since 2009, yet challenges to its adoption still exist. Taking action collectively will send a powerful message that fire sprinklers are widely accepted and must be embraced throughout North America.”
Read more at NFPA Journal.