2017 New Home Construction: What You Need to Know

If your plans for 2017 involve new home construction, make sure to talk with your contractor and architect about including home fire sprinklers into the design plan. According to the Honolulu Fire Department, as of April 2017, all new homes are required to have fire sprinklers. Furthermore, sprinkler systems must be tested each year to ensure safety regulations are maintained.The Fire Protection Mandate changes the cost of home construction, adding approximately $15,000 to $20,000 to your building costs. But while a home sprinkler system may require budget adjustments, it doesn’t require you to sacrifice aesthetics—most modern sprinkler systems are mounted flush with the wall or ceiling and are rarely noticeable. Furthermore, most home sprinkler systems are designed to only activate where fire is present, cutting down unnecessary water damage while potentially saving your home.

Home Sprinkler Systems Save Lives

Most importantly, home sprinkler systems save lives. The National Fire Protection Association reports that individuals are 80% less likely to die in a house fire where sprinklers are present. A home sprinkler system gives you and your loved ones time to evacuate before the fire becomes too dangerous. During a house fire, residents have about 3 minutes to escape safely. An effective home sprinkler system can douse a fire in as little as 90 seconds, often eliminating the fire before firefighters even arrive.At Home Planning Hawaii, we can help you navigate Hawaii’s fire code and permitting process, and ensure your home complies with the law. You can rest easy knowing that your family is safe in your beautiful new home.In the meantime, if you have any further questions on this topic, call 808-222-4069.