Calling All Residential Sprinkler Gods...

Constantin

As many of you know, we're currently in the midst of a house renovation. One of the specs I called out long ago was the fitment of a residential fire sprinkler system. This spec is currently causing my GC some serious heartburn since he's never had one installed before and hence has no rolodex with trusted names.

Worse, all Boston-area fire sprinkler companies we've contacted/networked with so far seem to be specialized doing commercial work and apparently cannot be interested to do anything residential...

Does anyone know a good plumbing/sprinkler installer in the Boston area that does residential work?

Joe_41

WE do

Constantin

...nice website...

...though where are the case studies? ;-)

Many thanks, I will forward your info to my GC!

Any other potential takers out there or someone you know who is in the Boston residential fire sprinkler biz?

Weezbo

Consider asking Wirsbo......they have some quality work

Weezbo

Consider asking Wirsbo......they have some quality work

Weezbo

Consider asking Wirsbo,they have some quality contractors

and may very well know of someone in the area...

[Deleted User]

sprinkler information

Check out
www.homefiresprinkler.org
for info on residential sprinkler systems
And lets not forget to replace the batteries in our smoke detectors when we change the clocks back...

Constantin

Thanks Mike!

I copied a number of those references and passed them on to my GC. Hopefully, we'll be able to find a sprinkler company which wants to take our job while not wanting to take us to the cleaners at the same time.

[Deleted User]

fire sprinklers

Glad I could help Constantin, thats why we all come to "The Wall"


I have heard there has never been a multiple loss of life in a properly sprinklered building. (Its like having a fireman in each room 24 hours a day). I have seen how effective they can be many times as I was a firefighter and saw what happens with-out sprinkler protection. The cost as I am told is about the same as good wall to wall carpet...A very cheap price to pay for the protection it offers, not to mention the fact that the system will last longer then the carpet. I installed them in my own home and remember, you don't have to replace any batteries, like a smoke detector. Of course, ALWAYS use smoke detectors, but, those little sprinkler heads are always ready to do their job when needed.

Constantin

Interesting...

...our current system costs are all over the place. Since pricing discussions are frowned upon, I'll only state that industry claims of an installed cost of $1-1.9 per square foot to be laughable (thus far) in the Boston Metro area. Don't get me wrong, I know that this is a high-cost-of-living area. But we shouldn't be talking orders of magnitude deviations.

Ever since the insurance companies decided to raise sprinkler-coverage premiums astronomically, a lot of the plumbers that used to do fire sprinkler installs no longer do so. Too little business, too much cost. The rest seem to enjoy their oligopoly position.

This is a shame IMHO, as sprinkler systems shouldn't be priced out of the market. I hope the local insurance regulators do their job, recognize the problem, and address it. Perhaps then the residential fire sprinkler market can grow and start protecting more than 2% of US homes.

Larry Weingarten

In California...

one is allowed to install a fire sprinkler system if it has been properly engineered and drawn up first. People generally don't do that as the cost of engineering alone is close to what sprinkler installers here charge. But, in your case it might be a way out of an unhappy situation. Another way might be to go T&M and work with the sprinkler contractor to keep costs in line. These ways might not fly in your area, but I just got my house sprinklered for $1.32/ft. But, then I'm strictly parsimonious!

Constantin

You give me hope...

I have an fire-sprinkler PE that I can call on to design such a system. However, I wonder just how impossible the local unions will have made homeowner installs in MA. I suspect that, like all other plumbing, DIY fire-sprinklers are a no-no. But I will call the city permit office and inquire.

It's pretty ridiculous how something as simple as a fire-sprinkler system could turn into the critical path for the whole project. GRRRRR!

Constantin

Thanks Weezbo!

I called them up and so far, we're batting a big zero (just like the Red Sox, argh!)

As AquaPEX is not yet approved in MA for drinking water purposes, they haven't even begun to sell that stuff in quantity (only test sites w/permits are allowed). The AquaSafe product probably has never been installed in this area as a result. Frustrating!

[Deleted User]

This old house

I remember seeing an episode on "This Old House" where Tom Silvas brothers house burned down and they were re-building it. They were installing a sprinkler system that shared the domestic water piping making it cheaper and easier to install. You might want to check that out.

Weezbo

Well why not break new ground and Go with it?

were we all to wait around for permission to go Bath room.......do the niki just Do It ! thing.if all cars had square wheels on em in Mass..i would put round wheels on the car and suffer the concequences:) call wirsbo back and ask to speak to the inventor of the wirsbo residential fire sprinkler system.hes smart cookie and would probably put round wheels And tyers on the vehicle immediately:)