USFA to push for home sprinklers

EMMITSBURG, Md. - Together with fire protection industry officials, an independent federal agency in mid-July released a report detailing a national advocacy strategy for the use of fire suppression and sprinkler systems. In “National Residential Fire Sprinkler Initiatives,” the U.S. Fire Administration brings attention to the aspects of localized fire suppression in high-risk areas of the home and the use of residential sprinklers in buildings supported by the federal government. “We know how important residential sprinkler systems are,” said R. David Paulison, U.S. fire administrator, in a statement. “Every year more than 3,000 people lose their lives in home fires, and most of those deaths are among the elderly, the disabled, the low income and the very young.” The report is the result of a meeting between officials in the fire industry and the USFA, where an action list was developed. Items on the list include the development of an aggressive strategy for advocating sprinklers in residential and government buildings; advocating localized sprinkler systems in high-risk areas; provide advocacy and informational support among stakeholders, including decision-makers at the state and local levels and ensure that the USFA continue to support research in development in residential sprinkler technology.