REPORT

Summary Excerpt

A home is typically a source of comfort and safety for its residents, however according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), about 27% of reported fires from 2012 to 2016 in the US occurred in the home [1]. In fact, the NFPA estimates that a fire department responds to a residential fire every 24 seconds, and a civilian fire related injury or death occurs every 36 to 154 minutes respectively [1]. Even though the implementation of sprinkler systems contributed to the reduction of residential fires and civilian fire related deaths rates by half since 1980, their design comes with two main inherent flaws, which can be mitigated by a fire suppression system using mist [1]. The two inherent flaws of the current sprinkler systems include, a late activation response which allows the fire to mature to dangerous, sometimes fatal levels, and the massive dispersion of water once activated, which can only be turned off upon the arrival of the local fire department. Beyond the fire related injuries and deaths, these flaws also contribute to significant property damage, due to both fire and water that could easily be prevented, which attests to higher home insurance premiums for its residents.