Shopping for a Sprinkler Contractor

Fire sprinkler contractors should be listed in the Yellow Pages under "Fire Sprinklers," and they often advertise under "Sprinklers" as well. It is always better if you know someone who had sprinklers installed and can refer you to a contractor. If you are starting from scratch, though, a general caution is in order. Like any service, you will find contractors who are extremely competent and fair, and you will find those who are not necessarily so. Some states have contractor licensing laws to help weed out bad contractors. But not all states have such laws and their effectiveness in the states that do varies. Your best assurance is to get several bids and then diligently check opinions of past customers.

If you can, visit the homes of a contractor's past customers or a home that is under construction. If some sprinklers appear to be crooked instead of perpendicular to the ceiling or wall, or if there are gaps around the escutcheon plate (the metal trim ring around the sprinkler that covers the hole in the ceiling or wall), these indicate a sloppy installation and/or an inexperienced installer. Quality contractors pride themselves on sprinklers being perfectly straight and trim.

An important factor to consider is a contractor's experience with residential fire sprinklers. There is a critical difference between residential sprinklers and commercial types, and the last thing you want is someone installing the wrong ones. In some areas of the U. S., sprinklers are just getting introduced into single-family homes. If this is the case, even highly experienced contractors may not be familiar with the residential type. Also, contractors with experience installing sprinklers in homes will treat the space like their home, taking extra care not to damage anything.

One way to check a contractor's experience is to ask what installation standard he uses. In the U. S., the correct standard for single family homes and duplexes is the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Standard 13D, usually referred to as NFPA 13D. This covers both site-built and manufactured homes. If they refer to NFPA 13 or 13R, keep shopping. Standard 13 governs sprinklers in non-residential structures and residential buildings higher than four stories. Standard 13R applies to multi-family residential (apartments, condos) up to four stories.

The edition of the standard is important, also. They are updated every few years to reflect the latest developments in new technology and efficiencies that reduce cost. The most recent edition of NFPA 13D is 1999, and a new revision should be available in late 2002. There is no valid reason for a contractor to be using an outdated edition.

Next to experience and competence, pricing is the next biggest issue. For a home with a standard floor plan (as opposed to a unique or complex layout) that is located in an area where several contractors are doing single-family work, prices can be expected to be under $1.00 per square foot of habitable space to slightly over $1.00. The lowest we have heard is 57 cents a square foot. If a home has a complex floor plan or unique features, the price may be higher because additional sprinkler might be needed to provide the proper coverage. If you want sprinklers in unheated spaces (garages, attics), the cost will be higher if that part of the system needs to be freeze protected (usually with approved antifreeze). The NFPA standards call for freeze protection in any area where the temperature is likely to drop below 40F.

Another factor affecting price is competition. In areas with a lot of single-family sprinkler work, the costs are about one half that of areas with fewer installations (and thus fewer contractors who do this work). One caveat, though. If there is a lot of work but not enough contractors, they will tend to quote higher prices for new work because they already have all the jobs they can handle.

Specialization is another factor. Contractors who specialize in single-family residential work tend to be lower priced than other sprinkler contractors. For one thing, they have learned efficiencies that cut both installation time and materials. In a competitive environment, you can expect that they will pass these savings on to the customer in the form of lower bids. For another, they have a lower overhead than contractors who do large commercial jobs. A high overhead can literally double the amount of a bid.

Lastly, prices will depend upon the prevailing labor rates in your area. If you live in an area with relatively high or low labor rates, then this will be reflected in bids on residential sprinklers. An exception might be a contractor who does his own work.

Bulletin Board
Follow NASFM on
Twitter @NAofSFM