MYTH
“A smoke alarm provides enough protection.”
FACT
Smoke alarms alert occupants to the presence of danger, but do nothing to extinguish the fire. In a fire, sprinklers can control and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.
MYTH
“Home fire sprinklers often leak or activate accidentally.”
FACT
Leaks are very rare, and are no more likely than leaks from a home’s plumbing system. A sprinkler is calibrated to activate when it senses a significant heat change. They don’t operate in response to smoke, cooking vapors, steam, or the sound of a smoke alarm.
MYTH
“When a fire occurs, every sprinkler will activate and everything in the house will be ruined.”
FACT
In the event of a fire, typically only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire, leaving the rest of the house dry and secure. Roughly 85% of the time, just one sprinkler operates.
