After four successful years of promoting the “Built for Life” builder education program at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) is making new plans when the show moves to Las Vegas next year.

HFSC introduced the “Built for Life” program in 2005, the first year IBS moved back to the Orlando location. HFSC spokesperson Ron Hazelton, best known for his role as home improvement editor on ABC’s Good Morning America and for his syndicated show “House Calls,” helped kick off the major builder education campaign.

The “Built for Life” kit and 17-minute video were developed specifically for the homebuilding industry, through funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Fire Act Grant. Hosted by Hazelton, the video was developed to answer various questions HFSC received throughout the years from homebuilders about residential fire sprinkler systems in one- and two-family homes and the national standard NFPA 13D. Since that introduction, more than 30,000 kits have been distributed. All of the material is available free.

Appearing in the HFSC booth all four years in Orlando, one of the primary attractions was the interactive “Built for Life” game, hosted by Hazelton. Participants could answer a multiple-choice question about home fire sprinklers and fire safety. A clip from one of HFSC’s educational videos provided the answer. If the player had the correct answer, he or she could spin the wheel for a chance to win a variety of prizes that ranged from caps to digital cameras, iPods, GPS systems and flat screen TV’s.

Various fire sprinkler manufacturers supported HFSC’s efforts and were available in the booth to provide resources and installation and product information. The manufacturers included BlazeMaster, Globe, Reliable, Tyco, Victaulic and Viking.

“The four years in Orlando were a good experience for HFSC and the manufacturers,” said Peg Paul, HFSC Communications Manager. “We had nice booth space in the main hall, so it was easy for builders to find us. Throughout the convention, the booth was crowded with builders who wanted to play the game, pick up the education material or who had general questions about home fire sprinklers,” Paul said. “It was a great opportunity to talk to many builders, answer their questions and hear what they had to say.”

Thanks to funding from a 2007 Fire Act Grant, HFSC will be entering the virtual world in a big way. Visitors will be able to navigate through a new state-of-the art, interactive,
3-D animated two-story house protected with a fire sprinkler system. The new animation will be introduced at the 2009 IBS, January 20–23, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, booth #4288. With “behind-the-walls” and finished views, users will be able to see how the sprinkler system is installed, how it works, and what the homeowner will see inside the sprinklered home. Using the same virtual reality technology as high-end movie special effects and video games, this will be an exciting way to introduce builders to the real world of fire sprinklers.

HFSC will also introduce a new game and exciting prizes for people who visit the booth to win. The manufacturers will again be available with their resources and new information. If you missed HFSC in Orlando, stop by the booth in Las Vegas.