Do You Own an Apartment Complex That Lacks a Fire Sprinkler System? Here Are 3 Great Reasons to Consider Installing One
Fire sprinkler systems provide a number of benefits to apartment complex property managers in the form of improved safety and a reduction in property damage risk, but many owners of existing apartment complexes have been slow to retrofit their units with these systems. Cost is often a concern, as retrofitting an existing building is more expensive than installing a sprinkler system in new construction.
However, improvements in fire sprinkler technology have reduced the cost of a retrofit, and property managers can see long-term cost savings in the form of reduced insurance premiums and improved attractiveness to potential tenants. To help you decide if retrofitting your apartment complex with a fire sprinkler system is the right choice for you, here are three good reasons to consider a retrofit.
1. Improves Tenant Safety
Retrofitting your apartment complex with a fire sprinkler system will slow the spread of any fire that occurs, allowing your tenants more time to evacuate the area. Additionally, modern fire sprinklers can react to a fire quickly, and in some cases they can extinguish a small fire without the need for any intervention from your local fire department. Retrofitting your apartment complex with a sprinkler system helps to save lives if a fire occurs, and the improved safety can become a selling point for future tenants—some tenants, especially those who are elderly or disabled, may worry about moving in to a unit that lacks a fire safety system, so retrofitting your apartment complex can help alleviate those fears and help those tenants feel safer about moving in.
2. Improvements in Sprinkler System Design Have Reduced Retrofitting Costs
Retrofitting buildings with a fire sprinkler system is becoming less expensive thanks to innovations in sprinkler design. The PVC pipes used in modern fire sprinkler systems are inexpensive and easy to maneuver through existing walls and ceilings, which reduces installation cost. Extended-range sprinklers make it easier to cover larger areas with fewer sprinkler heads, reducing the number of heads you'll need to install in order to fully protect a unit. It's much less expensive to retrofit an existing building with a sprinkler system than it was in the past, when metal pipes and short-ranged sprinkler heads were the only materials that fire safety contractors had available.
3. Reduces Risk of Property Damage, Which Can Lower Insurance Premiums
Fire sprinkler systems reduce the rate at which a fire spreads and make it easier for the fire department to contain a fire, reducing the amount of property damage you'll suffer during a fire. Because of the reduced risk of property damage, you may be able to receive a substantial discount from your fire insurance carrier. The cost savings from a reduced insurance premium will help defray the cost of retrofitting your apartment complex. In addition, installing a sprinkler system can reduce the monthly premium your tenants pay for renters insurance, which helps to make your apartment complex more attractive to potential tenants.
Some property managers worry that installing a fire sprinkler system will increase the risk of water damage. However, a sprinkler system can actually lower this risk. After all, your fire department would use a substantial amount of water in order to contain a fire that occurs on your property. When you install a sprinkler system, fires become smaller and easier to contain. Less water is needed to extinguish them, which reduces the overall amount of water damage that your property suffers during the course of controlling a fire.
Overall, retrofitting your apartment complex improves the safety of your tenants and reduces your risk of property damage, from both fire and water. If you are interested in retrofitting your apartment units with a sprinkler system, it's a good idea to contact several different fire protection companies, like Allied Fire & Safety Equipment Co Inc., to find the best deal that adequately protects your property.
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