In a recent City Council meeting, Lake Havasu City adopted the 2006 International Fire Code affecting the new construction of adult care homes or group homes by requiring the installation of fire sprinkler systems.

“The very young, the very old, and the mentally or physically challenged people are the biggest risk, since they just can’t get themselves out,” said Lake Havasu City Fire Inspector Tom Delzio.

Lake Havasu City first adopted codes for fire sprinkler systems in 1996. Earlier codes required commercial buildings, residential duplexes, multifamily units and apartment complexes to be equipped with fire sprinkler systems. Subdivisions within the city are also required to install fire sprinkler systems.

Reports show there have been 45 fire-saves to date in Lake Havasu City’s history. Most are commercial buildings or multifamily homes, because current codes require them to be equipped with fire sprinkler systems.

Many residents live in single-family homes. According to city ordinance, single-family homes are not required to be equipped with fire sprinkler systems. It was decided through the years, that city codes were becoming too obtrusive on local homeowners.

As a result, residential single-family homes are exempt from fire sprinkler installation. Several homeowners, however, have not been excused from watching their home’s total destruction from fire. The evidence exists in the file folder on Delzio’s desk, filled with photos of local homes engulfed in flames.

Some residents choose to install fire sprinkler systems in new construction homes. Often times the technology of new alarm systems allow the home’s fire sprinkler system to be linked directly to the fire department, notifying them in case of a fire.

Commercial building fire sprinkler systems, consisting of 100 or more sprinkler heads, are required to be directly linked to the fire department.

Fire sprinklers are designed to activate by detecting heat from the fire. Once activated, they spray water on the fire and cool the area around it creating containment.

“The sprinklers catch the fires when they are still small,” Delzio said. “The alarm systems alert the Fire Department, and then they respond.”

Often times, only one or two fire sprinkler heads activated in response to the fire, and the fire is out by the time the fire department arrives. If that is the case, firefighters check inside walls and areas surrounding the fire to ensure no traces of the fire exist.

“The fire sprinkler systems minimize false alarms, due to the design of the sprinkler head, there must be heat for it to be activated.” Delzio said.

After one use, a sprinkler head needs to be replaced. The fire department replaces the used sprinkler heads after inspection of a fire to ensure the system would work if the fire were to ignite again.

Delzio said there are many tools the fire department uses to help them to put out fires. They have ladders, fire trucks, hoses and firefighters. Fire sprinkler systems are an extension of the tools available to them.

“The sprinklers are there, working on the fire before we get to the location,” Delzio said, “and they increase the safety of our city’s firefighters.”