Page 26 - Green Builder May-June 2018 Issue

CREDIT: HFSC

A better burn.
Seeing the impact
of a fire in person
can be the most
effective. Here,
firefighters oversee
a burn showing
how quickly a room
can be engulfed
in flames.

ROLE MODELS Trade-ups: better building, safety and sales

EVELOPERS AND BUILDERS in
Marietta, Ga., are benefiting
from trade-ups by installing
Dautomatic fire sprinklers
in entire developments. During the
planning process, city managers and
the fire marshal agreed that because all
the homes in the developments would be
protected with fire sprinklers, they could
be built closer together and closer to the CREDIT: HFSC
property lines, increasing the number of
homes in each development. Sprinkler test. Sprinklers make a huge difference in what can happen during a fire—as shown in these shots
Alden Spencer of Georgia-based of what a home looks like before (left), after when sprinklers are used (center) and after when one is not (right).
Affordable Fire Protection says he has worked on these types of projects Protection can be a selling point, according to Brian Drake of Victaulic, a
over the last few years with Torey Homes and Williamscraft Builders, and is Canadian manufacturer. “It protects what they build,” he says. “It’s a unique
preparing to start a new development working with McKenzie-Perry Homes. life-safety feature not unlike upgrading with a security system.”
“It really has been a good experience for builders and homebuyers, because According to Gary Keith, former HFSC Chair, the logic of fire sprinkler trade-
they get the benefits of the trade-up and can build safer homes for their ups is simple. Each fire sprinkler is activated by heat, and each one can be
customers,” Spencer says. very effective. Ninety percent of all home fires are contained by one sprinkler.
Homebuyers seem to like the option, according to Janie Head, director Often, sprinklers extinguish the fire before the fire department arrives on
of operations at Williamscraft Builders, which builds between 300 and 350 the scene. As a result, there is less likelihood of a major fire requiring heavy
homes a year in the Atlanta area. Although the company has had a lot of firefighting equipment, which can affect the rules for street design.
success, sales professionals at her firm had some qualms at first, she “Fire sprinkler protection in all new construction is a win-win decision,”
admits. “We thought what would be detrimental would be the cost, but Keith says. “The community has additional fire protection without higher
actual marketing experience proved otherwise,” Head says. “People feel taxes or increased insurance rates. The developer can reduce land
real secure and it helps their insurance.” development costs. The builder can reduce construction costs. Most
Some builders are impressed by the safety factor as well, says Dennis important, communities with fully sprinklered developments should see
Cressman of Home-Safe Fire Protection of Windsor, Ontario. One of Home- a decrease in fire death rates and property loss.”
Safe’s earliest customers was a builder who decided on his own to install
sprinklers in 168 homes “because he wanted to protect his customers.” Reprinted courtesy of HFSC

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