Cost-saving fire sprinkler incentives are commonly referred to as “trade ups.” Increasingly offered by municipal authorities to developers and homebuilders who install fire sprinkler systems, trade ups allow generous and advantageous design or construction flexibility. In return for increased public safety for the community, these benefits hold down development construction costs and can improve profit margin.

Trade ups differ depending on the authority having jurisdiction, but common sprinkler trade ups currently being offered in the U.S. and Canada include:

Street Width Reduction: Traffic lanes may be narrowed, substantially reducing the amount of pavement in every linear foot of street in the development.

Longer Dead-end Streets: Dead-end streets may be increased in length allowing additional building lots to be accessed.

Tee Turnarounds Permitted: The permitted use of tee turnarounds in sprinklered developments can create at least one additional lot per cul-de-sac.

Increased Street Grades and Building Setbacks: Steeper street grades and building locations further from paved fire vehicles access may be permitted.

Additional Units Permitted: Although the actual percentage may vary, increases up to 20 percent are not uncommon.

Expansion of Existing Water Supply May Not Be Needed: Required fire flows for fully sprinklered developments can be greatly reduced compared to non-sprinklered developments.

Increased Hydrant Spacing: Supply mains may be reduced and hydrant spacing can be increased.

Authorities are willing to offer trade ups to homebuilders because fire sprinkler technology dramatically increases the level of fire safety of the new residential properties. That’s important since homes are where the majority of fire deaths take place; more than 80 percent, in fact.

By installing fire sprinklers in new homes, builders are helping to reduce the potential for fire death in the community. That powerful public safety improvement overrides the need for other, often expensive, building and construction mandates typically required in new developments.

Fire sprinkler trade ups are not just good for builders and developers. Installed automatic fire sprinkler systems help prevent fire deaths over the life of the home – generation after generation. By enhancing public safety without unduly impacting municipal budgets, sprinklers benefit entire communities.

Visit the Builder section of HFSC’s Web site to learn more: HomeFireSprinkler.org/ Build/BuildTradeups2.html