Installing sprinklers a no brainer for property developer

The developer of Rotorua's Kawaha Point Villas has committed to fitting all of the homes with sprinkler systems - saying it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

FHB Group managing director Rob Davies' father worked in the Fire Service for most of his life.

"I was taught from an early age what sprinkler systems were and how they helped people," he said.

"We believe we can have a system installed for less that $500 per home."

Davies said it was a small price to pay for peace of mind and to ensure the families who will live in the homes.

"Fire deaths in homes are devastating and more so when we learn that much can be done to lower the death rate."

Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the Building Research Association of New Zealand have worked together to develop a standard for fire sprinkler systems for residential properties.

"If a fire sprinkler system was in the Grenfell Tower, in England, the recent fire that killed 71 people would not have taken so many lives," Davies said.

"It is fair to say that if the fire (started by a fridge freezer on the fourth floor) was in a flat with a fire sprinkler system installed it would likely have not spread any further than the flat it started in and no lives would have been lost."

Rotorua Fire Brigade fire safety investigator Stuart Bootten said having sprinklers was like having a firefighter in every room.

"We definitely recommend people install them in all new buildings, private or commercial.

"When you're building a home from scratch they are not overly expensive, add very little cost to the overall build and are totally worth it."

Bootten said with newer technology there was no need for "ugly sprinkler heads".

"They are recessed into the roof and look just like a flat disc coloured to match the ceiling.

"Plumbers or even alarm companies can design a system to suit your house, but it works out to be about one sprinkler for each 4m by 4m space."