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Comparative Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Conducted for Residential Sprinkler Systems.
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| U.S. Economic Analysis of Residential Sprinkler Systems | |||
| While there is growing recognition of the enhanced ability of residential sprinkler systems to protect life and property from fires, very few existing one- and two-family homes in the U.S. include a sprinkler system. One study based on 15 years of data from Scottsdale, Arizona categorized fire damage in two types of homes—those with fire sprinkler systems and those without fire sprinkler systems. The study reported property loss due to a fire in a residential home with a sprinkler system was $ 2 166 compared to $ 45 019 in the homes without a sprinkler system. What is the overall cost of residential sprinkler systems? A recent NIST report addresses the life-cycle cost of these systems. The report, “Economic Analysis of Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems” by Hayden Brown, NISTIR 7277, designs and applies a comparative life-cycle cost analysis to multipurpose network and stand-alone fire sprinkler systems designed in compliance with NFPA 13D. (This report is the first of two reports estimating the cost and benefits of fire sprinkler systems in residential single family housing.) The cost of each sprinkler alternative is estimated for a set of three | NIST-designed prototypical houses (colonial, townhouse and ranch). The stand-alone design uses a dedicated water supply and piping in which water only flows when the sprinkler system is activated. The multipurpose network design connects to the regular domestic water supply and piping of the house, so water is continually circulated. The economic analysis followed the standard American Society for Testing Materials standard, ASTM E917-02, and included those elements of life-cycle cost that are unique to each system, for example, design, material, installation and inspection costs. System plans, a comprehensive list of required components, and materials costs were obtained from manufacturers and sprinkler system installers. Data on multipurpose network design and three stand-alone designs were obtained, in addition to material cost data, as well as the economic analysis. The comparative analysis is applied to the cost data to determine which proposed system has the lowest estimated life-cycle cost. The estimated costs are with a close range, and are most sensitive to the decision to include a backflow | preventer. The information in this report is in support of a follow-on benefit-cost study by NIST of residential sprinkler systems. | A copy of the report is also available on CD. For more information, contact Hayden Brown at hayden.brown@nist.gov. |
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Comparative Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Conducted for Residential Sprinkler Systems. |
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Contact Information:
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Institute of Standards and Technology 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8660 Gaithersburg, MD 20899 Nelson Bryner |
Department of Homeland Security FEMA, U.S. Fire Administration 16825 S. Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Meredith L. Lawler |
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