Multimedia News Release - Tyco Introduces Rapid Response(TM) Home Fire Sprinkler Brand at International Homebuilders Show
January 11 2006 - 8:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Nearly 3,000 Die Annually in Home Fires - Widespread Use of Fire
Sprinklers Could Save Hundreds of Lives Each Year ORLANDO, Fla.,
Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tyco Fire & Building Products
(TFBP), a division of Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE:TYC)(BSX:TYC),
and a world leader in fire protection technology, today launched
the industry's first branded fire sprinkler program designed
specifically for homes. From the floor of the International
Builders Show, the company unveiled its Rapid Response(TM) line of
home fire sprinklers, kicking off a campaign to educate homeowners
and homebuilders about the effectiveness of fire sprinklers and the
ease and affordability of installing them in new homes. To view the
Multimedia News Release, go to:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/tyco/23507/ Rapid Response is being
launched as demand for fire sprinkler systems in homes is rising.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently revised
its Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), which individual states and
municipalities will begin adopting in the coming months and years.
The 2006 edition of the NFPA Life Safety Code requires all new,
single-family homes constructed in the U.S. to include a fire
sprinkler system. "Fire sprinklers save lives and protect
property," said Carmine Schiavone, Vice President of Business
Development and Communications at TFBP. "Approximately every 79
seconds, a home burns, and each year, nearly 3,000 Americans die in
home fires. We believe that NFPA 101 is going to change that. By
educating consumers about the availability of fire sprinklers and
encouraging homebuilders to install them in new homes, we hope to
drive those numbers down dramatically. Fire sprinklers can be to
this decade what seatbelts were in the 1960s." In a typical year,
fire kills more people in the United States than all natural
disasters combined. Currently, there are approximately 300,000 home
fires per year, and eight out of every ten fire deaths in the U.S.
occur in the home. The average monetary loss in a home with a fire
sprinkler system is $2,200 vs. $45,000 in a home without
sprinklers. With the use of fire sprinklers, the average homeowner
can significantly reduce his or her risk of death or serious injury
by fire, meaning hundreds, if not thousands, of lives could be
saved each year. With the launch of Rapid Response, Tyco hopes to
educate every new home owner about the benefits of fire sprinklers.
"I've personally been involved in either extinguishing or
investigating several thousand fires during my more than 30 years
in fire service," said Roy Marshall, former firefighter, retired
Iowa state fire marshal and Director of the Residential Fire Safety
Institute (RFSI). "Tragically, a great majority of those fires took
place in someone's home." Marshall continued, "I have never had to
pull a lifeless body out of a home where fire sprinklers were
installed. If there is one single message the firefighting
community wants homeowners to hear, it's this: Don't build your
next home without installing a fire sprinkler system. Your family's
safety could depend on it." Fire sprinkler systems work to suppress
fires rapidly and effectively. Rapid Response fire sprinkler
systems are built around a specially designed network of piping
filled with water, allowing them to always be "on call." When a
fire breaks out, the surrounding air temperature rises, causing the
sprinkler closest to the fire to activate when the temperature
reaches a point between 150 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The
sprinkler then sprays water over the flames, either extinguishing
them completely- or suppressing heat and minimizing the development
of toxic smoke until the fire department arrives. It typically
takes only one or two sprinklers to suppress a fire, resulting in
immediate and effective control and far less damage. Tyco is also
reaching out to the homebuilder community. "By installing fire
sprinkler systems, homebuilders can send a clear message that they
are putting their customers first," Schiavone said. "Fire
sprinklers increasingly are considered part of the state-of-the-art
safety features now deemed integral to fully secured homes.
Builders installing Tyco's Rapid Response line can also participate
in customized builder programs, helping educate their customers
about the value of buying a home with a fire sprinkler system." The
average new home can be sprinklered for roughly 1 to 1.5 percent of
the total cost to build a home, or less than $2 per square foot.
Adding a sprinkler system typically costs less than many decorating
upgrades. In addition, property insurance savings enable
residential fire sprinkler systems to pay for themselves over time.
Rapid Response fire sprinkler systems come with an exclusive,
10-year warranty, and are among the most advanced on the market
today, with all piping hidden behind the walls or ceilings.
Available in a wide range of finishes, the sprinklers easily blend
into any decor or home design. "There is no technology better than
fire sprinklers in suppressing fires, saving lives and protecting
property," said Schiavone. "For less than the cost of upgraded
kitchen cabinets, a new homeowner can ensure the safety of their
loved ones and the value of their home for years to come." For more
information, please visit IBS Show Booth # W1591, call
1-877-GET-TYCO (438-8926) or visit
http://www.tyco-rapidresponse.com/. Fire & Building Products
Tyco Fire & Building Products is a leading manufacturer of
water-based fire suppression system components and ancillary
building construction products, distributing more than 28 million
sprinklers worldwide every year serving customers in residential,
commercial, industrial, and institutional building projects. It
continually expands its capabilities through aggressive research
and product development to provide its customers effective fire
protection and construction solutions. Tyco International Ltd. is a
global, diversified company that provides vital product and
services to customers in five business segments: Fire &
Security, Electronics, Healthcare, Engineered Products &
Services, and Plastics & Adhesives. With 2005 revenue of $40
billion, Tyco employs approximately 250,000 people worldwide. More
information on Tyco can be found at http://www.tyco.com/.
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/tyco/23507DATASOURCE: Tyco CONTACT:
Emily DiTomo, Buchanan Public Relations LLC, +1-610-649-9292,
mobile: +1-484-557-9318, Web site: http://www.tyco.com/ Company
News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/897850.html
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