What is the Cost of a Fire Sprinkler System?
The cost of installing a fire sprinkler system to an average 3 bedroom family house is in the region of £3,500-5,500 for Mains Fed. An additional £2,600-3,200 for a Pump & Tank system. This price is based on a system typically including 10 – 20 sprinkler heads.
Calculating the Cost of a Fire Sprinkler Installation
We are often asked ‘what is the cost of a fire sprinkler system?’ As you can imagine there is no simple answer to this question. The price depends on the size and shape of the property and the type of sprinkler delivery system that is required.
To give you an approximate idea of the cost of a sprinkler system in a specific property we have put together a short guide to costing a system.
How Many Sprinkler Heads Will I Need?
Firstly, we establish the number of sprinkler heads required to provide full coverage (partial coverage is a deviation from the standard and would require written authority from the AHJ). Each sprinkler head can cover a room size up to 4.9m x 4.9m without obstructions. Additional sprinkler heads will be required in:
- Rooms over 4.9m x 4.9m,
- ‘L’ shaped rooms and corridors,
- Cupboards with a floor area over 2m2
- Bathrooms with a floor area over 5m2.
What Sprinkler Delivery Type Will I Need?
Once the number of heads is calculated we must establish the type of system your building will require. The most common types of fire sprinklers are Pump and Tank or Mains Fed. A mains fed option is not always possible as sometimes the flow and pressure requirements cannot be met. It may be required to have a 50mm or larger mains routed to the property to achieve the flow rates required.
Each system will be designed to a risk category, residential and domestic systems are split into risk categories see British Standards. This forms part of the calculation used to determine the supply duty. In turn this will affect the tanks size on pump and tank systems.
So What is the Total Cost of the Fire Sprinkler System?
In our experience the average cost per sprinkler head is £200 plus the pump and tank cost or control valve arrangement for the mains. This figure per head is based on a typical family home of 2/3 bedrooms, new build. This price will reduce when scaled over larger projects with supplies from boosted water sources found in high rise residential blocks for instance. This price may also rise where there are only a few heads on a project.
Pump and tank costs will vary. They typically start from £2000 depending on the risk category and system duty.
Mains fed systems will require control valve arrangements and in some cases alarm panels, solenoid valves, sounders or interfaces. Price start from £300
These prices would all be subject to VAT where applicable and should only be used as a guide.
Main Factors that Affect the Cost of a Sprinkler System
We could never attempt to list all the factors that may influence the cost of an installation. Some of the main factors include:
- Is full coverage required? In some instances a partial system can satisfy the authorities. This may not reduce the cost associated with the water supply or storage. It will reduce the size of the system and the number of sprinkler heads required.
- Retro fit or new build? If a system can be installed at the building stage when all ceiling voids are accessible it will be much simpler and so cheaper than an existing building, especially if the building is occupied
- Scheduling flexibility if there is flexibility for example to carry out a first fix and also second fix at the same time then this can enable the team to work more efficiently and so reduce the cost of the project.
- Water supply costs Can the system be connected to the mains water supply and has the water supply been designed to cater for a sprinkler system.
- Is a storage facility required? If the sprinkler system can not be connected to the mains then a water storage system is required, refereed to as a ‘pump and tank’. This may be located in the loft, the basement or the garage depending on space and feasibility. If the storage is in the basement and the sprinkler is required to serve several floors then a larger capacity of pump will probably be required. All these variables affect the cost of the system.
- Size shape and design of the property all affect the number of sprinklers heads. This in turn alters the amount of work involved and so the cost of the installation of the system.
For the most accurate estimate please send building plans or arrange for a survey.
We hope that this guide will give you an approximate overview. It is no replacement for consulting an expert and getting an accurate quotation. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to talk to an expert or arrange a survey to get a more accurate cost.
