By ELIZABETH BINNING
The Fire Service has developed a low-cost domestic sprinkler system which will save lives and reduce insurance premiums in New Zealand homes.
More than 250 people have died in building fires in the past 10 years, the most recent this week when three children and their grandmother perished
in a house blaze in Waihi.
Dr Paula Beever, director of fire engineering and research, said many of the deaths could have been prevented if sprinklers had been installed, but until now such systems, valued at up to $10,000, had been too expensive.
The new system, designed by the Building Research Association of NZ, with research funded by the Fire Service, can be installed in new homes for about $1000.
It uses the same pipes that carry domestic water, so it is much cheaper than existing systems.
Insurance company IAG New Zealand, which owns State Insurance and NZI, has backed the system and is working on a premium discount for homes where sprinklers are installed.
It is likely to be a similar discount to that given for homes or cars with burglar alarms, about 5 per cent.
