Safety is big business.

A good example of just how big it is can be noted in reading a recent survey conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The survey found that 81 percent of homebuilders offer monitored security.

Obviously the security and building industries have discovered that people are interested in protecting their families and property from intruders.

Now if a homebuilder were to extrapolate this data and apply it to other areas of potential revenue, the odds are that if a homeowner is interested in protecting his or her family and property from theft, they may also desire protection beyond intrusion to include protection from fire. Data collected in 2005 and released by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and posted on the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) Web site states that there were nearly 400,000 residential fires, with over 3,000 deaths, 13,000 injuries and $6.9 billion in property damage.

To combat the threat of fire, many communities are examining the benefits of sprinkler systems, which have shown to effectively protect life and minimize property damage by stopping the spread of fire.

Basic 4-1-1:

A fire sprinkler system is a fire containment/fire prevention solution. There are systems available that carry certifications from organizations, such as Underwriters Labs (UL), that feature home friendly designs capable of complementing home interiors and safeguarding an owner’s water bill.

Pluses 4-1-1:

The NFPA concludes that when sprinklers are present within the home, the odds of dying in are fire are reduced by 50 to 75 percent, and the average property loss per fire is cut in half. When used in tandem with smoke alarms, the risk of dying in the home is cut even further to 82 percent. Supporting the NFPA’s findings is the USFA, which says that data compiled from developments in Napa, Calif. and Cobb County, Ga. reveal no fire-related fatalities since the inceptive of their fire sprinkler programs. Furthermore, a Scottsdale, Ariz. study credits as many as 52 saved lives to its sprinkler mandates since an ordinance was passed in 1985. Fire sprinklers are also marketable in the building trades. A study conducted by the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) uncovered that 45 percent of Americans viewed a home with a sprinkler system as more desirable than a home without one. The survey also showed that 70 percent of the homebuilders that offer fire sprinklers were seen as being “safety concerned.”

Installation 4-1-1:

The USFA says that during the course of a new construction project, a fire sprinkler system requires a minimal amount of extra piping and labor, and it works off the domestic water supply. The government agency adds that the sprinklers are smaller than commercial products, and they can blend into most home decors. Once installed, the sprinkler heads are basically passive devices that activate once the environmental temperature hits a specified point. It should also be noted that local and state laws might dictate the installation of a fire system by a certified professional to ensure quality.

Costs 4-1-1:

There are a lot of unfounded myths surrounding the costs of a sprinkler system. The USFA says a 2,000-square-foot home can be protected for as little as $1,500 to $2,000 or about 1 percent to 2 percent of the total cost of the home. The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) numbers are in line with those of the government as it estimates the costs to be $1 to $2 per square foot for new construction and $2 to $3 for retrofit homes.

Profits 4-1-1:

As stated above, the costs for a sprinkler system range from approximately a $1 to $2 per square foot. Using a standard pricing model, new homebuilders can set markups to match other amenities and local market conditions.